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Next week, on Friday Feb. 3, Mount Vernon High School will play host to the Shamoya McKenzie Memorial Basketball Doubleheader, featuring an afternoon of basketball with both the boys and girls varsity teams facing their rival Scarsdale Raiders.
In an effort to help McKenzie’s grieving family after she was fatally shot on New Year's Eve, the school will be collecting donations - checks can be made payable to Nadine McKenzie - with all admission costs - $5 for adults, $3 for students - sponsorships and other proceeds 100 percent going to benefit the family.
The doubleheader kicks off at 4:15 on Friday, Feb. 3, with the boy’s game at Mount Vernon High School on California Road. The girls will follow up with a 5:45 p.m. tip-off.
Organizers of the doubleheader wanted to make note that “neither the event, nor the donations were solicited by the McKenzie family. Instead, numerous community members compelled the McKenzie family to allow us to organize this event so that the Mount Vernon community would have the opportunity to aid in support of the family during their time of grief.”
A star for both the Mount Vernon Junior Knights, Lady Elites and the High School JV Lady Knights, McKenzie had dreams of attending the University of Connecticut to play under coach Geno Auriemma before making her way to the WNBA.
Last week, the Huskies made McKenzie an honorable member of their squad, complete with a letter from the school for her family and jersey bearing her number 30.
According to police, McKenzie was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A second victim was also struck in the shooting, suffering non-life threatening injuries.
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