by Rusty Ellis
White County senior KK McDonald signed her NLI on Wednesday morning to play basketball at Johnson University after graduation.
McDonald says it’s a proud day for her to achieve this accomplishment, especially considering she didn’t start playing basketball until the fifth grade.
“I kind of felt like I was behind everyone, but Jason (Winningham) really helped me, especially with my confidence,” McDonald said. “Signing today makes me proud and I know it makes him proud, so I’m just really happy.”
When it came time for her to make a decision, McDonald says that the way the coaching staff operates reminded her of how her AAU coaches did. That just made her feel more comfortable in choosing Johnson.
“I wanted coaches like my AAU coaches (Rachel and Justin Vann) and their coach is just like that, personality-wise,” McDonald said. “Their school is amazing and the facilities are great. I feel like they can really develop me as a player and a person there.”
Her high school head coach Michael Dodgen also says that it’s a privilege for any player to sign, especially one like McDonald that worked as hard as she did to get to a day like Wednesday.
“It’s always an important day for kids when they get to sign scholarship for college,” Dodgen said. “She’s done a great job of growing, from the time she was a freshman to her senior year…towards the end of the year, she was playing some of the best basketball she’s played since she’s been here.”
Johnson University has recruited the Upper Cumberland heavily, with other 2023 players like York’s Gabby Beaty, Clay’s Abby Head and McDonald’s teammate Lexie Golden also headed to the Lady Royals.
Because of that, Dodgen believes McDonald will fit in very well there.
“That’s going to be a team over the next couple of years that could dominate that league with the players they’re bringing in,” Dodgen said. “He’s getting some of the best kids in the Upper Cumberland that can stand out at that level…the hard work that they’ve put in is really paying off.”
And make no mistake, McDonald is excited to get to play with a current teammate at the next level.
“I’m looking forward to hanging out with Lexie, and Gabby because I haven’t seen her much since AAU,” McDonald said. “I’m really just looking forward to playing more basketball too.”
