Prospect Spotlight: An Interview with Mekenzie Hefley (2020)

I started watching 6'0" junior center <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/mekenzie-hefley/">Mekenzie Hefley</a> back in <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2019/01/salthawks-elude-panther-shooters/">December</a>, early in the 2018-19 high school season, when she played a bunch of minutes in a junior varsity game and a few in the varsity victory over Great Bend. While inexperienced at the varsity level her presence was immediately felt on the floor if for no other reason than she was the only legitimate center they had and physically Great Bend could not match up with her. Not until mid-season did Hefley seem to gain time and get more quality minutes on the floor. By the end of the season she was a substantial component of the varsity rotation.  I was able to visit with Mekenzie at the Wichita MAYB Summer Kickoff event held at Wichita Hoops shortly after she wrapped up her first game of the tournament as part of Kansas Twisters. [caption id="attachment_55765" align="alignleft" width="189"] 2020 Mekenzie Heffley boxes out an opponent during a MAYB tournament game.[/caption] Mekenzie is ranked 81st in the 2020 class and 8th at the center position. She is a developing talent who has a solid, strong build; has good length; can put together moves in the post to score all around the basket; posts up strong; boxes out well; and has good transition speed. PGHRobert : Hello Mekenzie, I've been following you throughout the high school season but this is first time I've seen you this summer. Have you been playing much this summer. MeKenzie : No, the is first time I've played. I'm still getting to know my teammates. PGHRobert : Are any of your teammates from Hutchinson also. MeKenzie : No. PGHRobert : You came a long way during your junior season, playing mostly junior varsity to really joining the regular varsity rotation by late in the season. Your game really developed. What do you attribute the change to? Mekenzie : Confidence. I grew more confident as the season went on. PGHRobert : It was certainly noticeable and it carried over into your first game of this tournament. What are you working on to improve your game this summer? Mekenzie : Develop my left more. I also want to improve my range to the three point line. PGHRobert : What are your plans for playing this summer? Mekenzie : Play more with this team. I also will be playing at the team camp at Hutchinson Community College next weekend. I have been playing with my school in the Sterling Summer League. PGHRobert : Are you looking to play at the college level in the future? If so have you been talking with schools or otherwise heard from any? Mekenzie : I would like to. I've talked a tittle bit with Kansas Wesleyan but have heard a little from a couple schools from Maine and Chicago. PGHRobert : At college what would you like to major in? Mekenzie : Criminal Justice. PGHRobert : Something on the lighter side, what are some things you enjoy. Mekenzie : Dogs and scary movies. PGHRobert : Okay, to wrap things up, what is something people might not know about you? Mekenzie : My friends call me "Grizz." PGHRobert : That's awesome. Well, good luck this summer, I look forward to continuing to follow you. Mekenzie : Thank you. Because I have watched her development in the past year I do understand why she has garnered little attention. That will change. Her biggest challenge during the MAYB tournament was getting out to defend other bigs who had perimeter range and she did not show perimeter range. The latter she plans on developing this summer. What did not happen was getting overpowered inside. She also showed off a good inside spin move to finish with her left and beat opposing bigs down the floor in transition. Some time in the weight room will make her that much more difficult to muscle. Lastly, as much of a developing talent as she is, she is already better than several 2019s bigs that are committed to playing college ball this ball so I think there is little doubt whether she will be playing at the next level. The question is where, and how she continues to improve will key that. &nbsp;