Aaliyah Gayles: From Counting Gunshots On Her Body To USC Basketball Comeback

At one point, Aaliyah Gayles found it difficult to brush her teeth by herself. An athlete who slogged to make it big in basketball and jumped up to the highest hoops, lay in her bed finding it hard to perform the most routine tasks.

But courage fights all odds. What Aaliyah did for her girlfriend made her a real life champ. It was not only unimaginable but also proved Aaliyah’s dedication. Though it landed her in trouble, what followed afterward was the universe answering the call of a human being.

That dreadful night

The USC Trojans women’s basketball player was shot innumerable times when attending a house party in April 2022 in Las Vegas. About 18 bullet shells had left a mark both on her hands and legs.

Gayles was one of the four people to be the victims of the shooting. Her condition was so grave that she found it arduous to put weight on her legs or to even hold a pencil in her hands. However, that didn’t deter her spirit as she signed her letter of intent to compete at the USC just within 10 days of the unfortunate incident.

Gayles’ game sense can be gauged from the fact that she played against the Louisiana State University Lady Tigers’ star Flau’jae Johnson and tricked her with her moves during a 2022 Jordan Brand Classic match in Chicago a day before the horrifying attack. Some even compared her to the NBA legend Michael Jordan for her ball fake. But, destiny had other plans.

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Gayles was taken to the party by her girlfriend Janaye Jackson. The 5’9” player was not acquainted with the host – Uriah Tucker – but Jackson wanted to attend the celebration after seeing an invitation on Instagram. During the gathering, DJ Derek McMillan’s wife Gwendolyn asked about 100 people to go inside the house and locked the doors. It was then that two people in ski masks had an altercation with Jackson and punched her. Gayles tried to barge in when one of them took out a gun and started shooting.

Aaliyah, The Rebounder

Aaliyah was rushed to the University Medical Center. Her parents were called, and they followed her in the emergency room. The damage was so much that at one point in time the doctors thought of amputating her leg. “I thought basketball was over…” her father said as per ESPN. “I’m thinking, like, reality. Both legs. Both arms. People don’t just bounce back from something like that, you know? But I forgot who I was talking about.”

This tragedy brought Dwight back to the days when Aaliyah used to try her best to basket the ball even though she was just 5-year-old and small in stature. She had always been courageous.

Growing up she had learned how to tackle opponents both on and off the court from her siblings. She always stood up when the moments were heated not only for herself but also for her friends. Dwight would let Aaliyah practice basketball and always come to teach her when she lost.

Fortunately, Aaliyah’s testing times are coming to an end. She can be found in the gym with her teammates. The athlete training staff is helping her regain her athleticism and mobility. Earlier, she was also seen hooping some close-range shots as per Yahoo Sports.

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Gayles can now walk and everyone is waiting for her to return to the court. She will be on the rooster in the USC’s season opener against the Ohio State on November 6. Her spirit has helped her do the impossible and proved that it cannot be subdued.