It only took a few minutes for sophomore guard Adalia McKenzie and head coach Shauna Green to click. McKenzie knew she wanted to stay in Champaign and play a part in the start of a new era in the program's history, and it only took one meeting for the pair to establish mutual trust and respect.
Nine months later, McKenzie has put together the best season of her career and is one of the Illini's most important players despite still being an underclassmen.
"When I heard her vision, it wasn't just about winning, but it was about getting better every day," McKenzie said. "It's a journey, and she's gonna be there for us. I immediately put all my eggs in the basket because that's what I love to hear. You just know when someone's real, and she had really good energy."
McKenzie arrived on campus in 2021 and immediately made an impact, making 15 starts while ranking second in points (9.4) and rebounds (4.1) as a freshman. She started the final eight games of the 2021-22 season, and she recorded double-digit points in six of the last nine contests of the year.
As a sophomore this season, McKenzie has started all 24 of the Illini's fixtures and has set new career-high marks in nearly every statistical mark, including scoring (14.3 points), rebounding (6.4 boards), assists (2.2), and steals (1.5). McKenzie recorded a combined 34 points, 20 rebounds, eight offensive boards, eight assists, five steals, and 53.6% shooting mark and played all but four minutes in Illinois' last two home games, which were wins over Michigan State and Minnesota.
McKenzie attributes her success to her offseason work, which helped her grow mentally and physically stronger and has paid dividends in her IQ and confidence. As a naturally physical player, McKenzie often drives to the basket, and she now feels more confident in her driving abilities and decisiveness.
"Staying in the gym consistently is really simple, but it's hard," McKenzie said. "A lot of days, I'll feel tired, but I gotta get up and go get in the gym because it's the extra hours that matter. Just staying in the gym, getting on the shooting gun, just working with the coaches consistently helps a lot."
Green did not watch film on any players when she first stepped foot in Champaign, yet McKenzie left an instant impression on the Illini head coach. Whether it be her energy, personality, or eagerness to be great, McKenzie became a key part of Green's plans and has shown her potential this season.
"I loved Adalia from the first time I met her and the first time we talked on my first day on the job," Green said. "She just has positive vibes that exude from her. She wants to win. I remember that first day, she talked about how she wants to win Big Ten championships. I was like, 'OK, slow down, girl,' but that was her mindset. She wants to be great. I knew she was going to be a special player, but more importantly, a special person from that first meeting."
McKenzie, Illinois' top returning scorer from one year ago, is one of five Illini who represented the Orange and Blue last season. She now ranks third – 16th in the Big Ten – in scoring, second – 11th in the Big Ten – in rebounding, and first in steals for the new-look Illini.
She has also played an integral part in Illinois' historic 2022-23 campaign that has featured one of the biggest turnarounds in college basketball. The Illini have won 11 home games for the first time since 2012-13, earned a spot in the Associated Press' top-25 poll for the first time since 2000, and already matched its highest conference win total since 2012-13.
The Illini sophomore and Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native continues to make an impact every time she steps on the court, and Green knows how high McKenzie's potential is heading into the back half of the conference schedule and into the postseason.
"She's critical, absolutely critical. No doubt about it," Green said. "We need her to play well. She's obviously elite getting to the rim, she has a pull-up, and we need her to continue to be a three-level scorer. She's so important to us from all facets."
With a bright, energetic personality both on and off the court, McKenzie does not like to lose. Last season is a thing of the past, and McKenzie has played a huge role in putting Illinois back in business in the top half of the Big Ten.
"Losing sucks. I hate it," McKenzie said. "Going into the new coaching staff and this new year, I was like, 'I want to win, and I want to win in every area of my life.' The coaching staff has literally helped us win in every area.
"Coming into the season, I just envisioned myself working hard every day. I did want to start, I did want to play a lot, but I knew that was gonna come with working hard. I just focused on just getting better every day and just being my best."
