Wasilla seniors, longtime friends, celebrate chance to play basketball at the college level

Layla Hays and Mylee Anderson have grown up together on and off the court. They’ve shared experiences, the exciting wins and tough losses. They’ve celebrated region and state championships together.

Hays and Anderson had the chance to celebrate again Tuesday night.

This time, it’s the next step in their basketball careers.

Surrounded by friends and family, Hays and Anderson were recognized for their opportunity to play college basketball during a ceremony in the Wasilla High School gym. Hays will attend the University of Iowa in the fall and play for the Division I Hawkeyes. Anderson will stay closer to home to attend UAA and compete for the Division II Seawolves.

“Looking back at all of the pictures of us, I’m just grateful I got the opportunity to grow up with her,” Anderson said of Hays. “We definitely went through a lot together and have grown together.”

The Wasilla High senior standouts have played basketball together since the third grade, Anderson said.

“She’s been my best friend since we were like 7 (years old),” Hays said.

Hays and Anderson are both two-time first-team all-state selections, earning the nod from the Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches, as a sophomore and a junior. Both were second-team all-state as freshmen.

Hays and Anderson also helped Wasilla earn the 2024 ASAA 4A girls basketball state title with a 35-32 over rival Colony as juniors.

Hays heads to Iowa City, Iowa, and the Hawkeyes program as a four-star prospect. The 6-foot-5 post is the top-ranked player from Alaska in her class and is No. 70 in the country. Hays will be part of a program that reached the NCAA Women’s Final Four the last two seasons, and competed for a national title for the second straight year. South Carolina topped the Hawkeyes 87-75 in the 2024 championship game. Iowa was also the runner-up in 2023.

Hays said she has always wanted to play Division I basketball, but the fact she has the chance to be a part of a program that played in a Final Four still has not quite sunk in yet.

“It’s always been a dream, but I never thought it would be something like that,” she said. “It’s crazy.”

Hays was courted by dozens of notable programs throughout the recruiting process. Her final list of possible destinations also included Washington and Nebraska. Ultimately, Hays said Iowa felt like home.

“I felt it in my heart,” Hays said.

Coaching also was a big factor in the decision.

“The coaches are such great coaches at developing post players,” Hays said.

Wasilla head coach Jeannie Hebert-Truax said she’s excited to see how Hays develops with the Iowa coaching staff.

“I think she can do great things. She’ll have some pretty good coaches behind her teaching her what to do, how to make herself better,” Hebert-Truax said. “She works hard. She has the right mindset. I think she’s going to make us proud.”

Hays also has a close family connection to another Valley standout who had success at Iowa. Leah Magner, a former Colony High star, played for Iowa from 1998-2002, and was a standout for the program.

“She’s my mom’s best friend since they were little,” Hays said of Magner. “She’s excited for me. She knew it was a great place for her and she blossomed so much. I think she was secretly hoping that’s where I would go.”

Iowa athletics announced Hays as one of three recruits to officially commit on National Signing Day.

“Layla is just a tremendous post player that just about everyone in the country has taken notice of, and we are so fortunate to get her. She’s versatile in how she can run, how she can score at the block, and I think she’s just scratching the tip of the iceberg. She’s also a tremendous young woman, and we are beyond pumped to have her,” Iowa head coach Jan Jensen said in a press release.

Hays averaged 16.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per game as a junior.

While Hays will make her way to the midwest in the fall, Anderson wanted to stay closer to home.

“I just love the program,” Anderson said. “A lot of it had to do with family, staying home.”

Hebert-Truax said she believes Anderson, a 5-foot-9 point guard, is also a Division I caliber player, but applauded her choice to play for the Division II Seawolves.

“She probably could have gone out and gone Division I, but I am super proud of her. I’m happy she’s going to stay in Alaska. I think she’ll have a great following,” Hebert-Truax said.

As she looked at potential schools and programs, Anderson said she always felt what is best.

“I talked with a few other schools. UAA was always my choice,” she said.

Anderson will also have the immediate opportunity to contribute as a freshman as UAA’s point guard.

“It’s a little nerve-racking, but I’m super excited,” Anderson said.

Hebert-Truax said Anderson has the chance to help UAA return to the national spotlight. UAA has reached the NCAA Division II Women’s tournament eight times during Ryan McCarthy’s tenure as head coach, including a trip to the title game in 2016. Hebert-Truax said Anderson has the potential to be a great Division II player who could help the Seawolves in the postseason.

The 2016 UAA team that advanced to the title game featured former Wasilla standout Alysha Devine, who coached Anderson during her first two seasons of high school.

“I hope to continue that legacy,” Anderson said.

Anderson averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.6 steals as a junior.

Anderson is one of four recruits UAA has already landed during the early signing period.

“Mylee is a player we have had our eyes on for a very long time. We have been able to watch her throughout high school and see her develop into one of the top players in our state. I have never seen a better leader at the high school level, and Mylee embodies the characteristics of that word. Lastly, we just got someone who absolutely took over the state tournament – those are the types of players we seek. To say we are excited about Mylee is an understatement," McCarthy said in a press release issued by the school.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.