South Hadley native and Hopkins Academy graduate Mackenzie Sullivan is shown for the UMasss women’s basketball team against UMass Dartmouth during an exhibition on Oct. 31. Sullivan, who was a walk-on, was awarded a basketball scholarship for the second semester of her senior year.
South Hadley native and Hopkins Academy graduate Mackenzie Sullivan is shown for the UMasss women’s basketball team against UMass Dartmouth during an exhibition on Oct. 31. Sullivan, who was a walk-on, was awarded a basketball scholarship for the second semester of her senior year. Credit: THOMAS KENDALL FOR UMASS ATHLETICS


AMHERST — Mackenzie Sullivan isn’t sure what possessed her to try out for the UMass women’s basketball team as a sophomore.

The South Hadley native kept seeing the flyers advertising the open tryouts on campus and sent a picture to her family in a group chat. Her four siblings and parents encouraged her to give it a shot, so the Hopkins Academy product attended the tryouts.

Whatever she showcased that day impressed coach Tory Verdi enough that he offered her a spot with the Minutewomen. Unfortunately, her academics and scheduling didn’t work out and Sullivan was forced to quit.

“Walking away as a sophomore, I was really upset for a while,” Sullivan said. “My twin sister (Kate) said I was upset for like three months after I quit just regretting everything.”

Sullivan got a second chance, though, to be a Division I basketball player.

In September, Verdi was looking over his roster and realized he likely needed a few more walk-ons to help boost UMass’ depth for practice. One of the first people he contacted about the chance was Sullivan.

And two years later, Sullivan made sure to make time in her schedule and joined the Minutewomen.

“It was so weird, I actually hated not being apart of a team,” Sullivan said of her three years just playing intramural basketball. “I missed waking up and being like I have to go to practice, I woke up and had nothing to do with my day.”

Never though, did Sullivan expect what happened to her Saturday during UMass’ video session ahead of a road trip to La Salle.

She had spent the morning watching film individually with assistant coach Mike Leflar while Verdi prepared the rest of the team for a surprise by handing out cans of silly string. When Sullivan walked into the film session, Verdi and his poor poker face tried to act casual and continue going over the scouting report for the Explorers. Inside though, Verdi was excitedly awaiting the moment director of operations Hillary Spears walked into the room with an urgent letter for Sullivan.

Sullivan read the letter announcing she would be put on scholarship for the second semester aloud and was bombarded with the silly string when she finished.

“When I took over this program, I wanted players who love the University of Massachusetts and who want to be here,” Verdi said. “If we’re going to build and win a championship, we need players who are invested and want to be here. She embodies that and that’s why it was a no brainer to me to take her and then give her a scholarship for the second semester.”

Verdi said what has always stood out about Sullivan was her competitive streak and dedication to the program. He said she is a reliable member of the team who shows up every day and practices the same way.

“She is as committed as anyone else on this team who has a scholarship,” Verdi said. “She is someone who we can rely on each and every single day. … She comes to practice each and every single day and she makes herself better, she makes her teammates better and she’s coachable.”

On Nov. 24, Sullivan made her debut for the Minutewomen in the final 87 seconds of UMass’ 90-61 win over Brown. She said the only thing she remembers from that day was Verdi looking down the bench and telling her “Kenzie, let’s go.” Her only other appearance this season came last Wednesday against Dayton when she played the final 1:28 in a blowout loss.

Those two games were a glimpse at what could have been for Sullivan, who thought about playing college basketball at a lower level after eclipsing 1,000 points at Hopkins. But she hasn’t looked back at her choice to stay home, and now has a year as a Division I basketball player as a bonus.

“I was looking at a bunch of schools to play basketball, but no D-I schools,” Sullivan said. “I ultimately chose UMass because I wanted to stay close to home and I just liked it here. That was the biggest decision I had to make was to go to UMass or go to a school where I could play basketball. I chose UMass and it all worked out and I got both.”