Named the MVP of the 2026 Jordan Brand Classic girls’ game on April 17, 2026, Amalia Holguin capped off an outstanding senior season at Sage Hill High School and reflected on her former coach, the late Kobe Bryant.

"Kobe was like a big Beyoncé fan, so he was like, play Beyoncé. I didn't really know the lyrics, but I had to learn them," the “last Mamba” recalled in a clip shared by Sports Illustrated yesterday.

“Yeah, we got to meet a lot of people... He brought a lot of people in, so we can meet and just learn from different women that were higher up in the game,” added Amalia Holguin.

She's the youngest protégé from Kobe Bryant’s Mamba youth girls basketball team, who played alongside his daughter Gianna Bryant.

Six years after their passing, Holguin remains the last active high school player coached by Bryant.

Fittingly, the Sage Hill High School senior has embraced the “Mamba Mentality,” leading her team to a 28–6 record and a historic 61-point game with 14 three-pointers in a 101–26 win over Laguna Beach, setting a new Orange County single-game record.

By the end of the third quarter, the record was already within reach. By the time she left the game, she had rewritten the record books with her performance.

Her 14 threes broke the previous county record of 13 set by Isabelle Avalos in 2020. Holguin also crossed the 2,000-point milestone in her career, all while playing for Sage Hill, although the overall scoring record of 69 points still belongs to Teresa Martinez.

The win pushed Sage Hill High School to a 17-game streak and a 22–4 record as Orange County’s top team, while Amalia Holguin showed Kobe Bryant’s influence through her calm play, precision, and respect for the game.

This breakout season is the result of years spent under Bryant’s mentorship.

Amalia Holguin Eyes Texas Longhorns Future

The Sage Hill guard maintains a strict routine of team practices, private training, and strength work, built over years under Kobe Bryant, who first noticed her at a youth tournament against Gianna Bryant’s team, the Riptide.

Her father, James Holguin, still remembers the moment Bryant approached him after watching her play.

"Is number 10 your daughter? She’s really special," said Kobe Bryant.

Even though Amalia Holguin was younger and smaller than most players, she earned her place on the team that later became the Mambas.

"I couldn’t really grasp anything, I was just starstruck," said Amalia Holguin, explaining how overwhelming it felt at first.

Now, with her high school career ending, Amalia Holguin is set to join the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team, aiming to carry forward Kobe Bryant’s teachings while building her own path.

What's your take on Amalia's next chapter? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Utsav Gupta