DURHAM, N.C. - Duke women's basketball player Mikayla Boykin will be looked to as a leader this upcoming season.

Off the court, the Clinton, North Carolina native has tried to have a positive influence as well. Ever since the tragic death of George Floyd, Boykin has been focused on the "Black Lives Matter" and social justice movements.

"What I'm doing in my community is use my voice as a public figure to bring awareness and help people understand that this is a real thing going on," Boykin insists. "It's not just something [where] we're living in the moment, it's an actual movement."

Boykin has been involved with protests and has organized community events to bring people together. The Blue Devil guard has also found her voice through hip hop.

She's posted several videos to social media expressing her thoughts regarding experiences and hardships of being Black in America.

"People resonate with music more than anything," Boykin says. "I feel like a lot people love hip hop, R&B, and the Black culture of music. So that was a way that I felt like not only the Black community, but surrounding communities could resonate with what I have to say."

Though it's unclear how the COVID-19 pandemic might shape the upcoming college basketball season, one thing is clear - Boykin will continue to promote a positive message and inspire others to have their voices be heard.