Outlook

Meli McKinney (pronounced ME-lye) is a hard-working athletic guard and a highlight waiting to happen … Athletic and explosive ... Plays bigger than his size ... Great kid and teammate ... Brings all the intangibles to the table … Averages 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds over his career … Has scored in double figures in six career games.

Sophomore Year 2018-19

Played in 26 games … Averaged 2.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game … Hit 31-of-50 shots for a shooting percentage of 62.0 … Shot 72.2 percent at the free throw line … Began the season with six points and seven rebounds in a 115-59 win over Ottawa JV (11-1-18) … Followed with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting with two free throws, and hauled in four boards, in a 95-79 win over Southeast (11-6-18) … Was 6-of-6 at the line with one field goal for eight points in an 86-51 win over Black Hawk-Moline (11-10-18) … Hit 5-of-6 shots and two free throws to score a season-high 12 points in a 136-82 win over Quakerdale Prep Academy (11-17-18) … Had six points, three rebounds and two blocks in a 104-74 win at North Central Missouri (12-5-18).

Freshman Year 2017-18

Played in all 31 games, eight in a starting role … Averaged 4.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game … Was 58-for-103 from the field for 56.3 percent, and was 30-for-56 at the free throw line for 53.6 percent … Was second on the team in blocked shots with 32 … His 32 blocks and his 1.0 blocks per game average ranked third in the Kansas Jayhawk D-II Conference … Reached double digits in points four times … Finished with eight points and season high eight rebounds in a 103-71 win over Graceland JV (11-17-17) … Hit a season-high five free throws and finished with nine points in a 90-67 win over Northwest Kansas Technical (11-18-17) … Also had six rebounds, three steals and two assists in that game … Hit 5-of-7 shots with a free throw for 11 points and grabbed seven boards in a 90-84 loss to Washburn JV (11-20-17) … Scored 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds in a 70-68 loss to State Fair, going 5-for-6 from the field and 1-for-1 at the line (1-6-18) … Matched his season high of eight rebounds, and scored six points in a 79-68 win over Fort Scott (2-3-18) … Was 5-for-5 including a three-pointer to finish with 11 points in a 64-59 win at Fort Scott (2-21-18) … Also pulled down five rebounds and produced season highs with three assists and four blocked shots … Poured in a season high 14 points, hitting 5-of-7 shots and 4-of-6 free throws, in a 79-58 season-ending loss to Labette (3-3-18).

High School 

Was a two-year starter and four-year letter winner for coach Wade Wallace at Harding Prep, Oklahoma City, Okla. … Graduated 2017 … Earned Little All-City honorable mention his senior year Averaged double figures scoring both years as a starter … Averaged 11.5 points and 4.3 rebounds as a junior, and 14.1 points and 5.5 rebounds his senior year … Finished his career third in blocks, fourth in double-doubles and third in field goal percentage at Harding Prep … Over his final three seasons, his team was ranked in the top 10 for most wins in a season in Oklahoma Class 4A with 59 victories … Helped Harding Prep to a Regional Championship his junior year, and a District Championship his senior season.

Personal 

Born Meli T. McKinney on Sept. 9, 1998, in Oklahoma City, Okla. … Son of Brian and Jacqueline McKinney … Has two brothers, Cayman and Derrick … Major is undecided … Also recruited by Barclay College … Favorite foods are pizza and pineapples … Favorite fast food restaurant is Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers … Favorite restaurant is On the Border … Favorite TV show is Sponge Bob Square Pants … Favorite sports movie is Like Mike … Favorite book is Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro … Favorite music entertainers is Drake …. Favorite cartoon character is Timmy Turner … Favorite athletes are Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose … Favorite sports team is the Oklahoma City Thunder.