A highly-regarded prep performer, who landed with the FAMU Women’s Program via the transfer route, Akita Heatly quickly made an impact on the Rattlerettes in her very first season.
The talented point guard used her consummate backcourt skills to serve as a catalyst to lead FAMU to the 1999 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament title, and a historic No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament berth, opening against Clemson University.
Heatly averaged 12.6 points game, dishing out 141 assists, plucking 62 steals from opposing ballhandlers, topping the club with 13 three-pointers made. She also posted a 5.4 rebounding average and eight (8) blocked shots.
For that dazzling debut performance in 1998-99, Heatly was named MEAC Rookie of the Year, while capturing All-Conference honors as well.
Careerwise, Heatly played in 79 games at FAMU, finishing seventh (7th) in career assists (385 or 4.87 per game), while averaging 10.9 points per game (865 points), 5.2 rebounds (413 total) and 2.1 steals (171 total).
She led the club in assists in all three of her seasons at FAMU, dishing out a personal best 147 steals as a senior in 2000-01.
HIGH SCHOOL: A two-time Suncoast Region Player of the Year (1995, 1996), Heatly helped lead her St. Petersburg Boca Ciega High team to back-to-back Class 5-A state championships, highlighted by sizzling 33-1 mark in 1996.
Heatly averaged 17.0 points per game as a junior and 13.0 as a senior, leading the club in assists and steals.
She signed out of high school with the University of Florida (1996-97) before transferring to FAMU.
