For McKenzie English, basketball is more than just a game—it’s about the friendships and connections that come with it. “What I love most about being a student athlete is probably being able to play basketball with some of my friends I make at school,” she said. “I feel like having friends on the court makes basketball even more fun and being able to see your teammates at school also helps you build connection off the court.”
That bond has helped English thrive as one of Pittsburg’s most versatile players. “I’m in tenth grade and I play 1-5; I’m a very versatile player,” she explained. Her versatility stems from years of hard work. “I started playing basketball when I was four years old.”
Her inspiration has always come close to home. “My brothers Marque and Mason English inspired me the most in my basketball career,” she said. And while she has learned from many teammates, one in particular stand out. “Gabby White left a big impression on me. No matter what she had going on physically or mentally, she always tried her hardest, came in the gym giving her 100% all the time and a huge encourager.”
English also follows the game at the next level. “I really keep up with Pitt State and I like watching Arkansas,” she said. Looking ahead, she hopes her future stays connected to the sport she loves. “After I graduate, I want to go to college and play basketball and I want to get my degree in occupational therapy.”
As for competition, she knows the toughest atmospheres. “I don’t have a favorite place, but I think the hardest gym to play is Parson or Labette and sometimes Fort Scott, one of the three because it gets so loud,” she shared.
Her development as a scorer has been a big step forward. “I think the amount I have been scoring—I have gotten a lot better with being a scorer. I was always passing the ball when my coaches needed me to score, so now I am feeling like I am balancing that out more than I was freshman year.”
And when asked who the greatest player of all time is? English didn’t hesitate: “Michael Jordan.”
