Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
Jenna McClendon, a basketball star from Prattville Christian Academy in Prattville, is taking her basketball game to the next level. McClendon signed her letter of intent to continue playing basketball collegiately at Middle Tennessee State University this week.
McClendon is only the second PCA basketball player to continue her basketball career with a Division I program. McClendon stated that what swayed her to commit to Middle Tennessee was their coaching style. McClendon noted how they have a great environment on the court, and they run everything very quickly.
“Being able to go and play at the next level is awesome. Ever since I was a little girl in 3rd grade is when I started to fall in love with basketball. I knew I wanted to go play and be big one day. Now being able to go and do that I feel so blessed,” McClendon said with a wide smile on her face.
Last season on January 15th, McClendon had a season ending injury tearing her ACL in a game against Hoover. However, McClendon took that opportunity to light a fire within her to not only bounce back as quickly as possible, but to come back stronger and better than ever. She is a true force to be reckoned with.
“It was really hard to accept the fact that I wasn’t going to be able to finish this season and we were so close to playoffs. It was just really hard. But seeing how much the girls grew from that and being able to be a little coach on the sidelines, I was seeing and learning everything that I could, and it was truly a blessing. It was really hard, but I feel like without that injury I would not be where I am today,” McClendon said.
From that injury McClendon stated that she learned not only to read the court better but to also read the ball and players better than she could before. McClendon stated that another big takeaway with her time rehabbing her injury and being a cheerleader on the side, she learned how to step up into a leadership role.
McClendon has also played a part in multiple championships for not only the PCA basketball program but also the Volleyball program. Her coaches stated that McClendon brings joy to any court on which she steps.
McClendon’s dad stated that the entire coaching and teaching staff at PCA have been nothing but supportive, of not only McClendon but the entire team and other students. This was evident in McClendon’s signing. The school’s coffee shop was packed with standing room only from students of all ages, coaches, administrators and teaching staff repping the blue of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
“There’re no words to describe how proud we are of her. I can remember her first basketball game at this school like it was yesterday. And literally, it has gone by so fast, it flew by, I look up and it’s gone. You kind of look back at your show and say, we wish I could do it again, but we get to it. The wife and I are buying an RV and not missing a game,” McClendon’s Dad Troy McClendon said with a very proud smile.
