CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS )--There's a lot to be happy about when watching the Charlottesville girls basketball team this season and it all starts with senior guard Makiaya Brown. 

"She's the one that keeps our group loose, laughing," Charlottesville girls basketball coach Jim Daly said. "Some of our big moments this year you can see the reaction shot of Makiaya jumping around and just the joy she takes in others success."

 CHS are currently enjoying their best season in nearly two decades, something that seemed unimaginable for Makiaya coming into high school during COVID.

"It's been amazing," Brown said. "They've become my family. I love them to bits. I wouldn't pick another group of girls to do it with."

"Last year, we had six freshmen on the team and I think last summer Makiaya was one of the keys. They loved her so much. Her sense of humor, how warm she is to everybody and how accepting she is."

But it's also her competitive spirit that has given the Black Knights a winning edge.

"My mom tells the story where I chose to be skins one day and that I had to remember I was a lady," Brown said jokingly. "We aren't going to get into it, but I was very competitive."

"She's hit some really big shots especially in games where we struggled to get going a couple times this year against some tough defenses," Daly said. "It's always Makiaya that has that confidence."

Makaiya hopes to carry her humor and willingness to keep people together into a career in psychology.

"It takes a lot of mental to make the choices that you make and I want to understand the choices that I make," Brown said.

"I'm almost have to stop myself from missing her already because I know much I'm going to miss her around this building, in the locker room and on the court," Daly said. "She's just a wonderful presence."

If you have a Student Athlete of the Week you'd like to nominate, you can submit a nomination form here.