Ethan HansonLafayette Journal & Courier
LAFAYETTE — Lafayette Jeff girls basketball has been busy this summer, working to make its long-awaited return towards becoming a strong program in Indiana.
Those aspirations of becoming a sectional title-contending program grew closer to reality with the addition of elite scorer Maya Layton.
Layton has transferred to Lafayette Jeff from Faith Christian after being named to the
"When I moved they were really welcoming since I know people there already," Layton said. "The teachers were really encouraging me. Getting me caught up with the class. Encouraging me to keep going."
Layton averaged 24.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 4.5 steals per game on 46% shooting overall and 72% on free throws.
"My favorite thing about Maya is her motor," Lafayette Jeff coach Jenna Sullivan said. "I'm sickeningly competitive and she's on that same tier that I am and she wants to do everything she can to win. She wants to win the possession whether that's going to get a basket or making a great pass or getting a defensive stop. She brings that to any group she joins and whatever teams she is on."
Layton, an incoming junior, is considered one of the area's elite athletes with her scoring in isolation along with being a proven defender on the perimeter. She holds offers from Toledo, Eastern Illinois, Purdue Fort Wayne, Northern Kentucky and Indiana State.
"If I put in a play she can run all five spots right away," Sullivan said. "If she sees something on the court and it's than what I'm asking for, we can have a conversation about it. She leads our kids with energy and effort which is something we've been wanting to develop with our upperclassmen. She does a good job of asking questions because she's part of a brand new culture with brand new plays."
Academics, in addition to basketball, was part of the equation into Layton's move across town to Lafayette Jeff.
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Layton described wanting a different academic experience than she had at Faith Christian. One of the courses she'll take is Advanced Placement African-American Studies, a class taught by current Bronchos associate head football coach Craig Henderson.
"I'm really interested in learning more about the history," Layton said. "I don't really know a lot but I'm interested and excited for it."
Maya Layton reflects on time with Faith Christian
While Layton thrived, she had little help after her team was beset by injuries. Returning sophom*ore starter Trinity Bolden missed the season with a knee injury while fellow playmaker Hannah Bolton sustained a season-ending injury towards the tail end of the campaign.
It presented an unfortunate twist for Faith Christian, which had finished 21-4 in 2022-23 and lost to Rossville in the sectional championship.
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"It was definitely a tight team," Layton said about her seasons with Faith Christian. "We kept fighting as a team no matter how hard it got. We had great team chemistry and the way we communicated. I feel like sticking together helped us get as far as we got."
A steer back to prominence? Lafayette Jeff carries potential
Layton makes the jump to Class 4A with a program that finished 4-24 under Sullivan. The Bronchos girls basketball team hasn't finished with a winning season since 2018.
Lafayette Jeff's last sectional championship came in 2009 when helmed by Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductee coach Jan Conner.
"We like being the underdog and playing with a chip on our shoulder," Sullivan said. "I'd say that's the culture of Lafayette Jeff top to bottom. We love that underdog feeling and people aren't seeing us the way they see these other schools. We really thrive under that environment and I don't plan on taking that away from us."
While the optics might seem foggy at first, Lafayette Jeff carried plenty of experienced veterans capable of making the program competitive in 2024-24 long before Layton's arrival. It returns key shooting guard in rising junior Shaylee Barrett, junior small forward Da'Niyah Johnson and senior point guard Amani Byrd.
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Barrett was named Journal & Courier All-Area honorable mention after she averaged 11 points and four rebounds on 42% shooting. Byrd played strong minutes averaging 6.0 points and a team-leading two assists per game. Johnson averaged 6.9 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Johnson has been credited with taking the role of being the team's bench leader by Sullivan. With Layton added to the mix, it'll create greater scoring opportunities for herself returning starters.
"It'll open up the floor a lot for a lot more of our players," Johnson said. "She is more of a standard point guard for us to have. It'll open up for Amani Byrd to get open on the guard side or for Shaylee to drive and not bring it up. She has very good court vision for all of us. It helps with plays when we are running in transition."
With Layton's addition, Lafayette Jeff signals a return to prominence and a team will be in true contention to compete for an IHSAA Sectional title against defending sectional champion McCutcheon and rival Harrison.
"We are still an underdog and we will thrive in those moments when people have counted us out," Sullivan said.
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter atEthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
