Even in a program with so many new faces, Iowa women’s basketball first-year Aaliyah Guyton has become a player to watch this season.
The daughter of Indiana Hoosiers All-American A. J. Guyton, the guard has transitioned from a bench player learning the ropes to a starter seeing valuable minutes in crunch time. In fact, Guyton has risen to the occasion each time her name has been called.
She started her career as a Hawkeye with two points against Washington State in front of a sold-out crowd at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Nov. 24, chipping in two from the charity stripe to contribute to Iowa’s 72-43 win.
Guyton kept moving forward and hasn’t looked back since.
“I’ve always felt like I have been preparing myself to get called off the bench,” Guyton said. “With that time, I always make sure I know what my role is. It’s actually easier to watch from the bench and see what’s going on first, take a couple of notes in my head, then just go out there and do what I can for the team.”
Some of the first-year’s skills may stem from being the daughter of two basketball stars in their own right. Her mother, Adriana Mafra, played 25 years with the Brazilian National Team and had a career with the Phoenix Mercury. Her father played for Indiana, kickstarting a career that included playing overseas and with the Chicago Bulls.
Most of Guyton’s abilities, however, come from hard work and dedication to the sport. Hailing from Peoria, Illinois, Guyton is one of five freshmen who had to earn their place on the Hawkeyes roster, newly led by first-year head coach Jan Jensen, assistant to veteran Lisa Bluder for 24 years at Iowa.
“She plays defense,” Jensen said, explaining her decision to start Guyton following a 62-57 loss at Illinois on Jan. 9. “She gives me another ball-handling guard. She showed what she can do. I think it’s pretty evident.”
Jensen also noted the guard’s consistency, even after returning to the floor from an injury.
“She’s been the most consistent kid off the bench,” Jensen said. “I haven’t had a ball-handler to be able to handle the press. I’ve had to limit her minutes because she’s coming back. She’s just about full-go. She finishes at the rim, she usually makes you pay at the three, and she plays deep.”
Guyton’s injury, an ACL tear last January, came after her signing with the Hawkeyes but before the knee surgery that kept her on the bench up until the win over Washington State. The first-year’s return to playing has been a long journey, to the admiration of her teammates.
“A lot of us have been injured and know what that journey is like, but specifically ACL is a really, really long recovery,” first-year Taylor Stremlow told Adam Jacobi of Hawkeye Beacon. “She was super consistent with that, worked hard every single day, showed up for herself and for our team.”
Although Guyton didn’t see playing time until Nov. 24, Jensen praised the first-year guard early on.
“I’m excited to get Aaliyah Guyton back,” Jensen said during a media day press conference. “She is still not practicing yet, either, and she would be slotted as the backup to Lucy Olsen. I think we have a really solid, great freshman class.”
Following an 85-80 home win over Northwestern on Jan. 28, Jensen expressed admiration for Guyton’s demeanor despite the imperfections of the game as a whole that included 20 personal fouls and 14 turnovers.
“That’s what’s great about Aaliyah — she just takes feedback,” Jensen said. “I don’t think there’s too many kids that right away, when they get cleared, I’m asking her to do what she’s been doing. She’s ebbed and flowed a little bit, but tonight she was a huge key catalyst.”
The first-year’s high school numbers speak for themselves. According to a May 2024 article from ESPN, Guyton was the No. 58 overall prospect as well as the No. 1 player in Illinois in 2024, according to PrepGirlsHoop.
Guyton’s junior year saw her come in as a four-star prospect, averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. The guard also came to Iowa as the freshman class’ second highest-ranked prospect behind first-year center Ava Heiden, ranked No. 42.
While Guyton’s first two points as a Hawkeye came from the stripe, this season has seen the guard break out as a strong shooter in general.
During the very next game following the win over Washington State, played against Rhode Island in Mexico, the first-year player put up seven for Iowa, going 2-for-3 from downtown and adding in a free throw for good measure. These seven points alone ended up being the difference between the Hawkeyes’ 69-62 win over the Rams and a much closer game.
Guyton’s progress throughout the season has been noticeable, the two free throws against the Cougars representing the tip of the iceberg of what the guard can do.
During the Northwestern game alone, Guyton racked up 15 points, including 3-for-7 from downtown and a perfect 4-for-4 from the stripe. The game was Guyton’s third career appearance with double figures.
“I feel like I stayed the course mentally,” Guyton said after the game, referencing the injury that delayed her start as a Hawkeye. “I do my mental exercises on and off the court. And whenever I feel like I’m backtracking, I have my teammates to help me, too.”
Jensen also praised Guyton’s adjustment from the smaller venues of high school play to the intensity of Carver-Hawkeye Arena and other college arenas.
“Sometimes it’s easy to forget she just got cleared [on] Nov. 26,” Jensen said. “The last game she probably played in was in a high school gym with about 50 people, and they were probably winning by 40. Then all of a sudden, you’re in this pressure cooker of which every move that this whole team makes is under fire.”
Guyton’s vocalization on the court will make her a reliable asset for years to come.
“She has that high basketball IQ,” Jensen said after Iowa’s win over Northwestern. “She sees the game, and she’s not one that shies away from any moment. She’s got a really nice way about her, and people don’t just allow her to say it — they want her to say it.”