Recruiting report: Mario McKinney (2019)
ST. LOUIS — Vashon guard Mario McKinney doesn’t know to what degree college coaches are interested in his game, but he soon will. Just a freshman, McKinney helped the Wolverines capture a Missouri Class 4 state championship, scoring 13 points…
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Continue ReadingST. LOUIS — Vashon guard Mario McKinney doesn’t know to what degree college coaches are interested in his game, but he soon will.
Just a freshman, McKinney helped the Wolverines capture a Missouri Class 4 state championship, scoring 13 points and leading the way with six rebounds in the title game against St. Joseph Lafayette.
The younger cousin of former Vashon and Mizzou star Jimmy McKinney, Mario says he looks up to Jimmy and has even tried to incorporate some of his moves.
“He has this jab step that’s so nice that I always use,” he said.
A long, athletic 6-foot guard, McKinney is a blur in the open court and plays much bigger than his listed height, scoring above the rim for rebounds or athletic finishes.
“I’m good for getting the ball up and court and good finishing through traffic,” he says.
McKinney averaged 7.7 points per game on a balanced and deep Vashon squad that added a talented group of players when Madison Prep closed to an already talented squad. McKinney mostly played off the bench and finished third in rebounding at 3.7 per game and led the team in steals at nearly two per game.
“He plays well beyond his age,” Vashon head coach Tony Irons said. “It is hard to believe that he just turned 15 years old. To be put on a stage like the championship game, I don’t even think he realizes what he is doing. He is just out there playing hard and trying to compete the best way that he can.
“With his effort level, he finds himself in great position to be successful. He is very athletic and he is going to continue to get better.”
Irons said McKinney is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential and will be a handful for opponents once he develops a consistent perimeter jumper.
“Once he realizes his potential level and he gets in the gym and works on his shot, he is going to be special,” Irons said.
McKinney is set to suit up this spring and summer for St. Louis Gateway basketball, his first year with the grassroots program.
“It was very fun (playing at the Final Four) because I got to play in a championship game as a freshmen,” he said. “I’m gone be focused on my school work and coming back better than before.”