Junior McKenzi Rutland loves dad jokes. North Central Girls Basketball coach FahKara Hawkins and teammate Laila Scott-Knox describe her short and sweet: corny.
It’s not just jokes for Rutland, she uses her corniness to be a personable and approachable leader that resonates with teammates.
“She is the teammate who understands most people, is relatable to most people,” Hawkins said.
Rutland’s leadership style keeps her approachable, making younger players feel invited. Her quirky personality creates an uplifting environment for herself and her teammates.
“McKenzi is a great leader,” Scott-Knox said. “She’s really corny, but she always has a good attitude.”
Rutland isn’t all dad jokes and puns. She has started her third varsity season off hot, setting a new career high of 25 points in a single game.
The 5’9” power forward was named player of the game after a gritty 48-47 win over Ben Davis High School. Despite the individual award, she still maintains her team first attitude.
“That game was just, I mean, I can’t do anything without my teammates. They pass me the ball, which allows me to score,” Rutland said.
Basketball gives her connections on and off the court. While Rutland’s favorite part of basketball is the connections she makes with her teammates, she doesn’t just connect on the court. The junior continues to build strong relationships in the classroom and in the hallways.
“It’s [Basketball] a way to connect with everyone from every different grade, different teachers, or just kids that you don’t know in the hallway,” Rutland said.
Rutland’s calm and clear mindset paired with IQ allows her to be one of North Central’s most consistent scorers.
“She is an analytical player, she understands the game well. High basketball IQ, and high work ethic,” Hawkins said.
Coach Hawkins believes it’s more than just her mental game and insight that make her a threat. Rutland’s multifaceted capabilities prove her as a valuable asset for her team.
“‘Kenz can do a little bit of every skill set that you need on a basketball court. And so it just allows you to utilize her in a lot of different areas on defense and offense,” Hawkins said.
Rutland’s well-roundedness exceeds her ability to impact the game. Being versatile allows her to show up however her team needs, which is another approach she takes off the court.
“I think McKenzi looks to please coaches, family, friends, and so her desire to strive for excellence, for those who are investing in her, allows her to be successful,” Hawkins said.
Even when she steps off the court, Rutland is still surrounded by knowledge. Both of her parents have a background in basketball, and her older brother is playing collegiate basketball at Marian University.
“I would say that McKenzi is getting pushed both academically and athletically by both of her parents,” Hawkins said. “They try to balance those 2 things out, so that they don’t overwhelm her, but they continue to push her to be her best.”
As Rutland wraps up her junior season, and looks towards the future, she wishes to follow in her brother’s footsteps and play collegiate basketball. No matter where she ends up, Hawkins emphasizes Rutland’s versatility to succeed off the court too.
“I think it’s important that people know that she is, when I talk about her gifts, they’re not just on the court. She’s very intellectually gifted. And I think that’s gonna carry her a long way,” Hawkins said.
