Inside the Huddle: McKenzie Brings Loyalty, Passion to Fighting Illini Program

When Adalia McKenzie began her college search, she knew she wanted to go somewhere she could make an impact in the long run. Her high school’s all-time leading scorer and the recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Miss Basketball award, McKenzie had several Power-5 offers and could have gone almost anywhere in the country.

But, as a lifelong underdog, McKenzie was sold on the vision of Illinois. She has since made that dream a reality and played a big role in the program’s turnaround as she competes in her third season in Champaign.

“I wanted to be a part of a program that wasn't already good and needed to build that success,” McKenzie said. “They talked about bringing in players to start that journey of success and needing to build this program. Why not be a part of that story? The vision of working toward being a successful team, that definitely inspired me.”

Growing up Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, in suburban Minneapolis, McKenzie started playing basketball in sixth grade, when she made her school’s B team. Playing against and scoring on opposing boys, she earned a spot on A team the following year and never looked back, eventually being invited to play on Park Center High School’s JV team as an eighth grader.

During the early years of her basketball career, McKenzie idolized Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, whose work ethic and Mamba Mentality appealed to her. Spending hours watching his highlights, McKenzie modeled her game after the Lakers legend, and she wore the No. 24 jersey in his honor during her AAU career.

Once she arrived at Park Center, McKenzie was forced to switch numbers, though, as one of her teammates already claimed her coveted No. 24 jersey. Wanting to pick a number as close as possible to the world-famous No. 24, McKenzie took No. 25, a number that is now forever memorialized at Park Center.

Before even beginning what would eventually become a historic and record-breaking high-school career, McKenzie had dreams of playing in college and in the WNBA. A fan of local legend, long-time Minnesota Lynx star, four-time WNBA champion, six-time All-Star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist Maya Moore, McKenzie knew college basketball would lead her on the path to following in the footsteps of her idols.

“I would watch Maya Moore, and I would watch her old college clips,” McKenzie said. “I was like, ‘What's the route to get to the WNBA?’ I knew that college was the next level up, so I wanted to go to college.”

There was still a long way to go before getting to that point, though. It was in high school that McKenzie met a woman who changed her life and has become one of her biggest supporters and cheerleaders. Barb Metcalf, a legendary North Dakotan coach with a lengthy and impressive resume, made the move across state lines and took over as Park Center’s women’s basketball varsity coach ahead of McKenzie’s freshman season in 2017.

The connection between the pair was instant, and Metcalf could quickly tell just how gifted and special McKenzie’s talent and passion for basketball truly was.

“I wanted to coach at a school that was in the heart of basketball, so to speak. I picked Park Center for that reason. Little did I know that I was going to meet Adalia McKenzie,” Metcalf said. “When I first met the team in the summer of 2017, I remember Dal was by the baseline with her notebook, jotting down and journaling ideas, either for herself or for the team. She always was reflecting on the game."

As college offers started rolling in, McKenzie became one of the top-ranked players in the state of Minnesota. Proving her value to her coach and teammates, she quickly took on a central role for the Park Center Pirates. A point of emphasis for opposing teams, McKenzie always had a target on her back, but she thrived under the pressure.

“Every game, I was used to teams double-teaming me or trying their best to stop me,” McKenzie said. “There was some pressure keeping up. You still have to be your best, but at the end of the day, I really had to learn that rankings doesn't define you. You just have to play through that pressure. Pressure is a privilege, so I liked that there was always a target on my back.”

A three-time All-Minnesota honoree, McKenzie averaged 28 points, seven rebounds, and four assists as a senior while leading her team in scoring each season over the course of her high-school career. Amassing 2,573 career points and grabbing 1,160 rebounds during her time at Park Center, she became the school’s all-time leading scorer and guided the Pirates to conference and sectional titles in 2020.

Ahead of her senior season, McKenzie broke her foot and went through months of rehab and recovery to return to peak performance. In the face of adversity, she continued to thrive and did not miss a beat, fulfilling a goal she set for herself during her freshman year: She was named Minnesota Miss Basketball. After UConn’s Paige Bueckers won the award the year prior, McKenzie became the first player in Park Center history to earn the statewide accolade.

“I'm a person of faith, but I prayed long and hard for Adalia to receive that award because there is no other female student-athlete who deserved that award more than she did,” Metcalf said. “She was so selfless and all about the team. She would do whatever we needed to help our team win.”

McKenzie, despite facing some fierce competition, never doubted her abilities, and she spoke her award win into existence.

“I told myself, ‘I'm gonna get it,’” McKenzie said. “For me to get it, it was such a relief. It was one of my favorite moments for basketball because hearing your name being called for Miss Minnesota Basketball, it was amazing. All my hard work paid off.”

Highly recruited by several schools in the Big Ten and by programs around the country, McKenzie decided she wanted to stay in the Midwest and committed to the Fighting Illini, a team that had won two conference games in each of the last three seasons.

Despite being a highly touted recruit, McKenzie did not arrive in Champaign expecting to play immediately or take on a significant role. Instead, she focused solely on working hard every day and doing whatever the team needed of her. Eventually earning a spot in the starting lineup, McKenzie played in all 27 games, made 15 starts, and ranked second in scoring (9.4 points) and rebounding (4.1 boards) as a freshman during the 2021-22 season.

“I was just focused on working hard to eventually get that playing time, but I wasn’t focused on it,” McKenzie said. “I was just working hard every day in practice, and I started to see the floor more and I started. I was like, 'OK, I definitely have a role on the team,' and I just continued to embrace that role.”

After one year in college, McKenzie could have decided to leave and pursue opportunities elsewhere due to a coaching change in Champaign. Instead, she remained loyal to the Illini and was one of five players who opted to compete under head coach Shauna Green, who arrived from a successful spell at Dayton.

Having gone through a freshman season that included seven total wins and only one victory in conference play, McKenzie was tired of losing. Losing is not part of her DNA. She wanted to be a part of a winning program, and that is exactly what she did last season.

Starting in all 32 games as a sophomore for the new-look Illinois program, McKenzie averaged 30.2 minutes, 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, and she shot 44.8% from the field, with all five marks setting new career highs.

A key piece in one of the biggest turnarounds in Big Ten history, a season that included a return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in two decades, McKenzie earned All-Big Ten honors for the first time in her career.

“I came to Illinois for a reason. To see my whole work paying off, the whole team working together, and the coaching staff working together to go after our goals and dreams to turn this program around, it feels really, really good,” McKenzie said. “Losing sucks. That's the honest truth. Losing consecutive games is really bad. To be able to go from a losing season to a winning season, it feels good. It boosts your confidence, and that's why we're here.”

McKenzie’s legacy already includes multiple achievements that most players could only dream of. She is a Miss Basketball honoree and an all-conference player, and she has played in the NCAA Tournament and competed against some of the best teams in the country. Despite her legacy on the court, McKenzie views her work off the court as equally impactful when it comes to her legacy.

She volunteers regularly at and organizes monthly group outings to Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana, which provides support for youth, adults, and families in the community. McKenzie also is one of three student members on the Illinois athletic board, something she was selected to be a part of.

“People aren't really going to remember all the plays you made and the buckets, but how you treat others, how you treat your teammates, and how you are with the fans and the community. That matters,” McKenzie said. “I want to be a good person to the people around me. I want to be known for my great energy, my smile, and my work in the community.”

Entering her 10th year of playing basketball competitively, McKenzie has given a lot of time and energy into basketball, but the sport has also given a lot to her. She says basketball has made her more perseverant and confident, and it has shaped her personality and perspective on life.

“Basketball has put me in good company with a lot of people, and I truly feel like I have a family here at Illinois,” McKenzie said.

While Metcalf is no longer able to be around McKenzie every day like she was in high school, she still expresses her support from afar, whether it is with an occasional text or watching her former star player on TV. Metcalf takes her current players to games every time Illinois comes to town to play against Minnesota or compete in the Big Ten Tournament, which will be played in Minneapolis again this year for the second year in a row.

She is not surprised in the slightest by McKenzie’s current success after seeing her compete at the highest level for four years under her guidance at Park Center. Metcalf will always be McKenzie’s biggest fan, even if she can not make the trip down to Champaign and offer her support in person.

“What I appreciate the most about her is her loyalty as a player. She's just one of those players who when you earn her trust and you have her heart, she'll do amazing things, and she'll continue to do them for you and the program,” Metcalf said. “I feel the same joy that I see in her eyes when she plays the game. Even my players now, they’re like, 'You coached for Park Center and you had Adalia McKenzie! What was she like?' Everybody wants to know what Dal is like. I always say, ‘She’s just what you see on TV. That's what she's like: the joy and the happiness she brings.’ She's just got that mature, older soul that people are drawn to. She's a magnet. She's just one of a kind.”

McKenzie is eager to add to her already impressive resume this season as she continues to rewrite history at Illinois, but her story is not over. She has achieved her goal of turning the program around and has left her mark with the Fighting Illini. Now a part of a program that is built to win, McKenzie is ready to make a splash in her third year in Champaign.

“Last season was a great season for me. I learned a lot and to see growth, and that builds up my confidence,” McKenzie said. “I just want to be the best I can be for the team, and I appreciate the coaches and my teammates for pushing me to be my best on the floor. I wouldn't have had that growth without them.”