“She didn’t have an athletic bone in her body,” Aaliyah Chavez’s father Sonny recalled of his young daughter. Still, the 8-year-old Aaliyah, with her wish “to join a basketball team,” proved many wrong. That’s where it all began: the story of the highs and lows of being a player who people often deem “The next Caitlin Clark.” Although she learned how to keep the noise out, Chavez cannot control when it begins.

In February, in Monterey’s final district game against Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Aaliyah heard chants of “Overrated!” But that’s what the best part about being a great player is: you don’t let the criticism get to your head, you turn it into a performance for those haters to remember. And just like that, Chavez ended the game with 33 points and a smooth 84-39 win. While she may have dispersed the chants then, it seems like they have risen again.

After Oklahoma-LSU’s NIL drama, Chavez, the No. 1 player in the 2025 class, has buzz around her again. She had a jaw-dropping win at McDonald’s Sprite Jam Fest. She scored 18 points without even needing her last shot before the buzzer. But while that earned her praise, her showing in the 2025 McDonald’s All-American girls game has left fans questioning if the hype matches the game.

In Tuesday’s showdown, Chavez and her West team came out on top with a dominant 104-82 win. While she brought in the first points with a three-pointer within 13 seconds of the game, her overall performance wasn’t as smooth. She went 2 of 8 from beyond the arc and only 4 of 13 from the field (30.7%). She totaled 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists with a couple of steals in 20:26 minutes of floor time. But again, came the criticisms for the guard.

You see, in her high school career, Chavez finished with 4,796 points, 1,279 rebounds, 771 assists, and 476 steals in 150 games and was named MVP in the championship win at Alamodome as Monterey brought in its first state victory since 1981. But the lingering issue? Her height. Standing at 5-ft-10, Aaliyah is shorter than most guards, and with the competition increasing at the collegiate level, the targets will only increase on a shorter guard, especially when she garners so much attention to get face guarded and double-teamed every night.

Chavez’s transition to college will certainly be tougher, as defenders get longer, stronger, and faster. Despite the West’s win, her struggles raised doubts, especially given her choice to bypass powerhouses like UCLA, USC, UConn, and South Carolina in favor of Oklahoma, a team that fell to UConn in the Sweet 16. With all eyes on her, Aaliyah’s got a long road ahead. Will she live up to the No. 1 billing? Well, some people disagree.

Fans react to Aaliyah Chavez: The good, the bad, and the hype

Choosing the Sooners when storied schools were behind her is certainly a bold choice to make a name for herself. One fan put it bluntly: “They gonna eat Chavez up in the SEC.” With her commitment to Oklahoma—a team sitting at 4th in the conference—questions linger about whether she can hold her own against powerhouses like Texas, South Carolina, or LSU. However, if Coach Jennie Baranczyk can tap into Chavez’s potential, the Sooners might just rise in the rankings next season.

Pasha Bains from Drive Basketball summed it up with a blunt observation on X: “Aaliyah Chavez is a bucket, no question. But the McDonald’s game has exposed what elite size & speed can do to undersized guards.” 

Another fan said: “She hasn’t played real talent before.” The East-West girls competition was brimming with named and skilled talents, hence, while this may seem to hold some weight, it’s not entirely true. Chavez has faced elite competition on the Nike EYBL circuit, where she averaged 29.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 30 minutes per game, leading her team to a championship. These are the same players she’ll face in college, proving her readiness.

Also, it is fair to note here that the McDonald’s game wasn’t a referendum on her talent but a lesson in adaptation, which comes with to one gradually. At 5-foot-10, she’s not undersized by guard standards—WNBA star Caitlin Clark, at 6-foot, thrived despite similar critiques early on. But that didn’t stop the noises.

One harsh critique came from a fan who called Chavez “hella overrated.” Yet, her performance in the McDonald’s game tells a different story. Despite a rough night in the East vs West McDonald’s final, Chavez’s overall high school career speaks volumes. It’s all part of the growing pains of being a top-ranked player.

A fan quipped: “They talking about Aaliyah Chavez like she Cole Anthony, dog, oh no.” While she may not be Anthony, the scouting numbers don’t lie. ESPN and 247 Sports have her ranked No. 1, with ratings of 98 and 100, respectively. Although many players do slip into oblivion after being ranked No. 1, it remains to be seen if Chavez will follow that path or prove the doubters wrong.

Finally, another comment suggested: “Yes they are!!! She got to get quicker… and take smarter shots!!”

In Chavez’s defense, we all know that she is not a natural athlete. She just liked basketball, had the drive to play it, and mastered her craft enough to become the No. 1 recruit. What does that tell us? She might not have the build, but she surely does have the IQ and the determination. This was visible in the game too, as after some calculations, she managed to deliver some incredible passes at the end. So, it might be too soon to doubt that she’ll adapt and thrive in D1. It’s all about growth after all.