Makayla Rosenbery commits to play basketball at Lincoln Christian College

*graphic from Mahomet-Seymour Girls’ Basketball Facebook Page

By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com

Makayla Rosenbery’s journey in basketball has been assisted by those who believed in her as well as those who didn’t.

The supporters were coaches and family, especially her mother, Melody Rosenbery.

They provided technical guidance and emotional support.

Included in the other group are those who – perhaps unwittingly – supplied the motivational and inspirational drive.

Basketball is a sport Rosenbery took up in first grade.

Like many youngsters, she tried a variety of activities – including softball, soccer, dance, cheer and volleyball – but kept returning to basketball. It was her joy and passion.

“Even before going into junior high, I knew basketball was my favorite sport hands down and that no matter what, I wanted to keep playing and getting better and learn everything I could about the sport,” Rosenbery said.

Not everyone was encouraging, she found.

“I remember a lot of people telling me as I got older that I wouldn’t really get anywhere with basketball because of how short and small I was,” Rosenbery said. “I never let that change how I felt about the sport.”

Through eighth grade, she was about 4-foot-10. By her freshman year at M-S, Rosenbery had grown nine inches. Now as a senior, she stands 5-10.

Basketball will take the Mahomet-Seymour senior beyond her hometown after graduation. A two-year varsity starter for the Bulldogs, she has committed to joining the women’s basketball program at Lincoln Christian University.

Rosenbery has not only played basketball, but she has also watched it as a fan.

“Of course, I had people I looked up to and was just amazed by the way they played the game,” Rosenbery said. “Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant were players that I just loved watching and admiring how they played.

“It was more than a game, they put so much time and hard work into everything they did. A lot of people didn’t really believe in them and they proved everyone wrong and that’s something I wanted to do.”

Rosenbery’s role models made a big enough impact that she carries a part of Bryant with her every time she puts on the jersey.

“Kobe is one of the reasons why I actually picked my number (24),” she said.

As a senior, Rosenbery has led the 16-13 Bulldogs in scoring in seven games and is the team-leader in three-pointers (33). Her scoring average is 7.9 points per game and her high game is 21 points.

Rosenbery will play her final home game at 6 p.m. on Friday in the opener of a girls/boys doubleheader against Taylorville.

“The beginning of my career I wouldn’t say was an immediate success,” Rosenbery said. “I struggled a lot with my size. When I was younger, I was pretty short compared to the other girls on my team.

“It was harder for me to shoot, and defense was sometimes a challenge due to the size differences. I quickly learned how to use my strengths with my size and speed.”

Her ability to handle the ball was another asset.

“I was a pretty good ballhandler, so I would attack the basket as much as possible and use my speed not only for offense, but also for defense and got quite a few steals,” she said. “To this day, defense is one of my favorite aspects of the game.

“I never really let the game frustrate me when I was younger. As I got older, going into high school, I would say is when things became frustrating. The past four years haven’t been easy.

“I would get frustrated with myself because I never wanted to let down my teammates. I started putting more pressure on myself and it still happens, which gets frustrating still.”

Rosenbery found mental preparation was the key.

“Just one of those things where relaxing and focusing on the game you love helps pull you through the hard times,” she said. “I knew as soon as I started playing, I wanted to keep going no matter how frustrating or hard it got.

“I fell in love with the sport.”

Rosenbery’s growth includes much more than what is shown on the roster. As a freshman, she was listed at 5-foot-7. As a senior, she is 5-10.

“Comparing my freshman year to this year, I have grown an outside shot and I’ve learned how to be a presence on the defensive side,” Rosenbery said. “The summer into my freshman year, I grew a lot, but I didn’t know how to use my height and length to my advantage.

“With my long arms, I get a good amount of steals and I’ve learned that with my vertical jump and long arms, I can block the ball. I’ve grown a better understanding of the game.”

She is not the same person she was as a ninth-grader, either.

“I also have grown as a person,” Rosenbery said. “My freshman year, I was a little shy. I didn’t talk much unless I was comfortable with the person I was talking to.

“Now I’ve taken more of a leadership role on the varsity team and with that comes a voice. A lot of the girls come to me if they need help and I’m glad that they feel like I’m someone they can talk to.

“The game has made me grow into a better player and has helped make me the person I am now.”

She needed more than a desire to play in college to make the goal become a reality.

“In junior high, I said I wanted to, but that was without thinking about what college really was,” Rosenbery said. “Going into high school, I started thinking way more than before about playing after high school.

“First two years of high school I told myself I wanted to play after high school, but my confidence wasn’t agreeing with the thought of playing more.”

Basketball, she found, was a release point as well as a coping mechanism.

“The sport let me worry about something else,” Rosenbery said. “I could blow off steam when playing.

“When I play, I don’t think about anything else and I feel good. When I first started getting talked to by college coaches, that’s when things got real for me. I felt good and proud of myself.

“My dreams and goals were slowly starting to come true and I was very excited to see what was going to happen. It was later my sophomore year and junior year where I believed I could truly play farther and not have to stop after high school.”

Her travel-ball experience – including a two-year stint with the Illinois Irish – was also a significant factor in her development.

“That team (Illinois Irish) had a huge impact on me and definitely upped my game and made me a stronger and more confident basketball player,” Rosenbery said. “The coaches there were amazing and I’m very happy I got the chance to play with them and be coached by them.

“I was a small forward on that travel team, which is different from what I play for my high school team (as a guard). I widened my range of shooting and learned different ways to take it to the hoop with being a small forward.

“I liked the change and I feel like it helped me grow for my high school team, and those skills will follow into my future career at LCU.”

As Rosenbery considered the possibilities for college, she prioritized some of her desires.

“I knew I didn’t want to go too far from home, but I didn’t want to be a short 15-minute drive away,” she said. “I always wanted to consider education and how well that would benefit me with the major I want to study.

“I was considering just going to Parkland for the two years and trying to get a job, but continuing school so I could be getting income and bettering my education.”

Last summer, another option vaulted to the top of Rosenbery’s list.

“When I went and visited Lincoln, I really liked the size of the campus and how I wouldn’t need to run around like crazy trying to find where I need to go,” she said. “What was a big deciding factor was all the resources the school has and the help they offer.

“The coach also was super helpful and you can tell he cares so much for his players.”

Lincoln Christian University is a private NAIA school with an enrollment of approximately 350 students.

“Overall, it just felt like a good environment and I believe that’s what’s important,” Rosenbery said. “I think it will be a great place for me to start my new chapter of my life and I’m beyond excited for it.

“I see myself fitting in at LCU by bringing my positive attitude outside of basketball.”

The 17-year-old Rosenbery hasn’t settled on a major, but said, “I have it narrowed down to two subjects that really interest me. I’ve thought a lot about psychology, but I’ve also thought about sports med.

“Both fields would be interesting to me and ones that I could potentially be successful in.”

Rosenbery believes basketball will take away some of the strain of going off to college.

“Knowing I have the opportunity to compete in college means the absolute world to me,” she said. “It would prove that all my hard work has paid off.

“Being able to keep playing makes going to college so much more exciting for me. I’ve always been pretty scared about the thought of going to college, but knowing I can do something I love will help make things easier and I’ll be able to keep playing the sport that helps me worry less.

“I get overwhelmed easily, but when I have basketball to go to, it helps ease things and have something else to worry about. The sport has been a huge stress-reliever. I feel extremely lucky to get the opportunity to continue playing the sport that has had a huge impact on my life. I can’t be any more grateful for this wonderful opportunity.”

Of all the people who deserve thanks, Rosenbery said, there’s only one at the top of the list.

“My mom (Melody Rosenbery) has been the biggest supporter throughout my entire career,” Rosenbery said. “She knew from the time I first started playing that if I stuck with it, I could go somewhere if I really wanted to.

“She has helped me become the player I am. My mom pushes me and knows what will make me better. My mom has been there for me since Day 1 in everything I do, no matter what.”

Her mom was also instrumental in helping Rosenbery work through the recruiting process.

“I wasn’t out sending a bunch of college coaches emails introducing myself when I was a sophomore, or sending film or making a highlight video,” she said. “I was pretty blind to what I needed to do, but I was already in my junior year when I realized I needed to start doing something if I was serious about getting recruited.

“I didn’t know much about the recruiting process and when counselors at my school started talking about it, it seemed like I was behind. My mom helped me with finding ways to be seen. I sent applications to a couple schools that I thought would be a good fit for me. The only part for me that was easy was playing and doing what I loved.”

As Rosenbery reflects, she has fond memories of her high school years.

“I would also like to thank all the coaches I’ve had over the years and all the girls I’ve played with for making me a better player,” she said. “I’ve loved every moment of high school basketball with all my friends and I appreciate them believing in me through all the years.”

Rosenbery’s success story is one that reached fruition because she wouldn’t allow others to sell her short.