By Amanda Scurlock for Los Angeles Sentinel
Originally published March 12, 2026
King/Drew junior center Destiny Madubugwu helped the Golden Eagles to a 23-9 overall record and a 12-0 Coliseum League record. She helped the Golden Eagles reach the Open Division playoffs and the Division III CIF State playoffs.
Madubugwu started playing basketball in the ninth grade at the urging of her mother.
“She was like ‘it will be fun’ because my siblings play basketball,” she said. “I tried it out and after that, I fell in love with it.”
Near the end of her freshman season, Madubugwu was promoted to the varsity team. Her rebounding skills have improved from her early varsity games.
“When I started, I didn’t even go for the rebounds,” Madubugwu said. “Now, I’m not really caring who gets hurt, because I just want the ball.”
A challenge for Madubugwu is maintaining a strong relationship with God while performing at a high level in the classroom and on the court.
“A lot of things, like basketball, the schedule, it takes a lot of your time,” she said. “As long as you have your heart where God wants you and you put God first, everything else just falls together.”
Along with basketball, Madubugwu is a track and field athlete, competing in shot put. She noted how shot put improved her leg work in basketball and how the event helps manage her emotions.
“It’s a way to take out a lot of anger because it’s mostly trying to throw it as far as you can,” Madubugwu said. “The anger goes through your hand and out on the field.”
Madubugwu understands that academics must come first in order to be a good student athlete. Her favorite class is Medical Intervention.
“It’s really interesting, it’s the science of medicine and how things are created, how infections spread, how cancer works,” she said. “It’s really fun.”
While Madubugwu admits that keeping her grades up while competing at a high level can be a struggle, she has found ways to balance her academics and athletics. The girls basketball team also helps the players with their school work.
“We have time for study hall, we have earlier practices where we get to go home and do our homework,” Madubugwu said. “Once you have a routine and you keep a good schedule, it will become easier.”
