Clemson soccer commit still shining in final season on the basketball court
ST. LOUIS (BVM) — There are a lot of talented two-sport high school athletes across the country. But not many of them face the difficult decision of having to choose which sport to play at the Division I college level.
Nerinx Hall High School senior Mackenzie Duff has however, and it wasn鈥檛 easy. Duff has been a basketball and soccer star her entire life. Although she claims basketball may be her best sport, her love for soccer is unmatched.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a roller coaster up and down between picking which I like more,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淚 think, naturally, I am a better basketball player and it鈥檚 just in my blood. But I feel like I just fell in love with soccer a little bit more than basketball.鈥�
As it turns out, Duff has family genes in both sports. Her mom is a former high school soccer star, while her dad is a former collegiate basketball player at Saint Louis University. Having support from two parents with so much athletic experience has helped Duff over the years.
鈥淚 owe it all to them,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淢y dad was my basketball coach until my sophomore year of high school and he taught me everything about the game. Having him be so competitive has rubbed off on me and made me want to be the best.
鈥淢y mom, before every soccer game I鈥檝e had, is always there to give a pep talk. She鈥檚 all about getting the confidence up. They鈥檝e always been in my corner and I think that鈥檚 part of the reason I鈥檝e been so successful.鈥�
Perhaps one of Duff鈥檚 toughest athletic decisions came when faced with what she would want to do collegiately. After debating back and forth, she chose to continue with soccer over the next four years.
With interest from numerous Division I schools, including West Virginia, Arkansas, Colorado State and Saint Louis, Duff was also faced with a tough decision on where to play. But ultimately, there was one school that stuck out for the senior, Clemson University.
鈥淚 went to Clemson, and I just had that feeling, I just knew,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淏efore anything even happened, I just had the feeling of such a family community and I was just so in love with it. Meeting the people down there and seeing the environment of the football and soccer games, it was awesome. Then, I got my offer, and it was an offer I just couldn鈥檛 pass up.鈥�
Based on what Duff has already accomplished during her soccer career, it is clear the Tigers are getting a stud player. The St. Louis native has been kicking a soccer ball since she can remember, and grew a quick love to the competitiveness and physicality of both soccer and basketball growing up.
The center back has become an exceptional passer over the years, and also has a strong sense of composure while being a good communicator. She brought those skills to Nerinx Hall right away, starting as a freshman.
Beating a rival school was one of Duff鈥檚 favorite memories from her freshman season. But as a sophomore, Duff and her teammates created even greater moments, making it all the way to the state championship game. Although they would lose a tough contest which included a three-hour rain delay, the experience of state was special.
鈥淚t was bittersweet,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淕oing to state was one of the best experiences of my life but getting second was a heartbreaker. It also made me even more motivated to get back to state and get that title.鈥�
Motivated as ever going into last season, Duff鈥檚 campaign would heartbreakingly be canceled due to COVID-19. Despite the difficulty of the situation, it has just added more fuel to the fire for what could be a special senior season this spring.
鈥淢y season got canceled last year which was absolutely devastating,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淔or us returning players who experienced that loss at state, our hearts are just burning to get a state championship. We have some good underclassmen coming in and I feel like we still have a strong team.鈥�
Duff will also increase her playing time with her club team, St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. Playing club soccer is part of what got Duff noticed by colleges so early in her high school career, and the competition she is playing against has helped her become an even better player.
鈥淭he most important thing is being able to play with such good players,鈥� the 17-year-old said. 鈥淗aving that competition right on my team has been something that鈥檚 definitely helped me. Playing against such good players has definitely prepared me for Clemson.鈥�
As special as Duff鈥檚 soccer career has been to this point, one could argue her high school basketball career has been just as good. The two-sport star also started on the hardwood right off the bat as a freshman, averaging around 10 points per game.
By sophomore year, Duff started becoming a true threat, and became her team鈥檚 leading scorer. She also cherishes her second season on the court at Nerinx Hall because it was the final year she got to play with her older sister, as well as be coached by her dad.
In her junior season, Duff was determined to break the 1,000-point barrier. And this winter as a senior, she has set her sights even higher, aiming to break the program record for points scored, which sits at 1,461. With under 100 points to go, Duff is well on pace to break the record currently held by Casey Kraft.
鈥淚 knew going into this season that I needed to get the all-time points record,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淭his season has been pretty strange, and I鈥檓 just head over heels that we had a season. When I hit the school record, it might be one of the greatest days of my life, if not the greatest. It鈥檚 something that I鈥檝e had my eyes on forever.鈥�
With her focus more on soccer as someone who 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 pick up a basketball from the day the season ends until the day it begins,鈥� Duff鈥檚 basketball accomplishments are all the more impressive.
However, that doesn鈥檛 mean she has lost any passion for the hardwood, and she will look to continue playing in some facet while at Clemson and post-college as well. Although it is tough to give up the sport competitively, Duff is happy with where she is headed.
鈥淚鈥檝e just been thinking, if I would鈥檝e focused on basketball, what could the possibilities have been,鈥� Duff mentioned. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 happy where I am and could not be more happy to go to Clemson for soccer.鈥�
While on the pitch for the Tigers, Duff hopes to make an immediate statement and prove she can play at the collegiate level as just a freshman. Eventually, she wants to become a full-time starter at Clemson as well.
Duff has also displayed excellent academic performance in high school, and putting the classroom first was instilled in her by her parents at a young age. At Clemson, she will look to continue that success in the business field.
However, a business career could be put on hold if Duff has the opportunity to play professional soccer after college. It鈥檚 been a lifelong dream of hers to do so, and with every passing day, it seems more and more within reach.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been my dream since I was a kid,鈥� Duff said. 鈥淚 think with right now, where I am, I鈥檓 confident and if I keep working how I am, I can get there. My dad always says shoot high. Being able to play professionally would be awesome and so special for me.鈥�
