Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball coach Mark Kellogg announced Tuesday one of Iowa’s top players, MaKena (Kena) Veldhuizen the 2013 Iowa Class 4A girls’ basketball leading scorer, would join the Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team for the 2013-14 season.
A 5-foot-4 lightning quick guard, Veldhuizen is ranked as one of the top point guards in the state of Iowa. The Oskaloosa resident averaged just at 20 points per game, 4 assists and 4.7 steals per game helping the Oskaloosa High School Indians set a school record for wins is a season with 18.
“Kena is a pure point guard and great leader,” said Kellogg. “She has great depth perception, makes very good decisions, and operates exceptionally well in tight quarters. What makes her better than most is her ability to score at will. She has a solid mid-range game and can stretch any defense with her three-point shot. Kena has extraordinary quickness and is the complete package of what we are looking for in a great Bearcat guard.”
Veldhuizen was selected as first-team all-state this year and has been both first-team all-conference as well as a unanimous first-team all-district selection the past two years. By becoming Oskaloosa’s all-time leading scorer during her senior season, Veldhuizen has been deemed as the most prolific scorer to ever play in an Indians uniform.
She also set career marks for free throws made and steals and broke numerous school records. Along with basketball, Veldhuizen also participated in track qualifying for the Iowa State Championships and accumulating “Rookie of the Year” honors her freshman year. Veldhuizen was also a letter winner on the volleyball court and received all-academic honors.
“I haven’t seen anyone more anxious to be the best and that separates her from most,” added Kellogg. “She has a great work ethic, is always putting in the extra time and she is extremely committed. We are so honored to have Kena join our Bearcat family.”
Veldhuizen will join early signees and standout guard Morgan Dittberner (Louisville, NE) and high profile forward Ashley Guenther (Independence, MO), as the newest members of the Bearcat women’s basketball program for the upcoming 2013-2014 season.
— NWMSU Sports Information —