Aaliyah McMillan is a junior guard for the Women’s Basketball Team. McMillan is pursuing a bachelor’s in kinesiology and this is her second year with the program. She is coming off of an injury and is hoping to play and support the team.
Q: What do you do for fun outside of basketball?
A: “Honestly, I like to sleep all day. I like to shop and I like to hang out with my friends and family.”
Q: What kind of music do you like?
A: “I like R&B, hip-hop and gospel, like, Christian rock. Also … my favorite artist is NoCap and Drake and then gospel, I like Maverick City [Music] and Tasha Cobbs [Leonard].”
Q: What movies or shows do you like?
A: “Right now I’m watching ‘[Power Book III:] Raising Kanan,’ and then my favorite movie is ‘White Chicks.’”
Q: What motivates you?
A: “Definitely my parents and my little sister ’cause she looks up to me so I want to be, like, a really great role model for her so she can be like me and even better.”
Q: Who is one of your role models?
A: “My parents. I really would say them because they sacrificed a lot for me, especially playing basketball. I was a military child, so we had to constantly move. So, for them to always get me to practice or make sure I was playing basketball says a lot about them. They had very busy schedules, too, like waking up early in the morning for [physical training] or whatever work, but they always made sure me and my little sister were good and nurtured.”
Q: Would you want to keep playing or do something with your degree?
A: “Honestly, I think I want to do something with my major. I want to be a physical therapist or a nurse.”
Q: What do you like about UTRGV?
A: “I really like the culture. I like the coaching staff. I enjoy coming to practice and competing very hard with them. And it’s always hot, I don’t like cold weather so that’s one thing I like.”
Q: Do you have a fun fact about yourself?
A: “I like to cook. … My mom always taught me how to cook different meals so I’m trying stuff, and then TikTok always has me trying different meals. I also cook for my friends from time to time, nothing too special just, like, basic dishes. I don’t know how to make it, but my favorite food is seafood. … A go-to meal I make is probably steak and mashed potatoes and asparagus.”
Q: What are some of your goals?
A: “Right now, I’m just recently coming off a major injury. I tore my ACL last year, so I’m really hoping to continue with my recovery process.”
–Compiled by Jose Medina
