Vanzant Signs With Central Missouri

FARMINGTON – Farmington senior Makenna Vanzant signed a national letter of intent to play women’s college basketball for the University of Central Missouri, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 at Cardinal Arena.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Farmington girls basketball coach Brad Johnson noted only two percent of high school athletes get a chance through a scholarship to compete at the college level.

“That’s a very, very small window and it don’t happen just on talent alone. One of the things that has to go along with that it is an uncommon work ethic. It takes character, it takes toughness and a level of commitment that is just different than most,” Johnson said. “And when you say those things it’s almost like you’re writing a book and describing Makenna Vanzant.”

Through 100 games at Farmington, Makenna averages 14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3 assists. 1.8 steals, and .4 blocks per-contest. An explosive player, she put 28 points on the board early this season against Marshall on 7-of-11 shooting including 5-of-6 beyond the 3-point arc and 9-of-10 free throw shooting.

Johnson said along with those essential qualities usually comes an unbelievable support system something Makenna enjoys through her family which spills over to the Lady Cardinal program.

“It’s certainly a special, special thing for all of us to be here today to support her and to celebrate her in taking that next step, that next big part, that next journey in her playing and education career,” Johnson said.

Farmington athletic director Brad Blew, who was voted into the Arkansas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018 after compiling a 464-162 record from 1986-2009 as Johnson’s predecessor, is impressed with Makenna.

“She’s a special young lady. She’s had a fabulous career here. She’s played on great teams and she’s really been a big part of that,” Blew said.

Thus far in Makenna’s career the Lady Cardinals are 80-22 with the bulk of the 2019-2020 season in front of them. Farmington has qualified for state each of the last three seasons making the quarterfinals twice and the State 5A semifinals in Makenna’s freshman year.

For Blew, it’s no shock that she’s advancing her athletic career into college.

“As great as she is athletically, her character far exceeds that and I think that sets her apart from a lot of high school athletes, but this is not a shock and I’m going to tell you Central Missouri they’re very fortunate to get a player and a young lady like Makenna Vanzant,” Blew said.

Makenna will be reunited with Madisyn Pense, who also started the last three seasons at Farmington. Pense signed almost a year prior with the Jennies and is currently a freshman at Central Missouri.

Central Missouri became the NCAA Division II national champion in women’s basketball by upsetting Ashland, 66-52, in March of 2018 which broke Ashland’s 73-game win streak. Head coach Dave Slifer enters his 16th season at the helm of the Jennies for the 2019-2020 season.

Makenna plans to pursue a degree in coaching and teaching. She is the 18-year-old daughter of Ryan and Monica Vanzant, of Farmington, and big sister to freshman Ryan Vanzant, who plays football and basketball. Makenna has accumulated a 3.94 GPA at Farmington where her favorite class is Biology taught by Miss Moad and her favorite subject is English. Her favorite basketball move is the Euro step.

She firmly believes in a motto, “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”

Makenna labors on defense and will block shots. During a 52-22 win over Siloam Springs on Nov. 16 to win the Duel of the Dome tournament at West Fork, Makenna blocked two shots in the second quarter, grabbing the rebound and taking one of them coast-tocoast for a layup.

“That’s unbelievable, she’s a two-way player offensively and defensively,” Johnson said. “She does so many things. She plays well on a lot of different levels. She can beat you in a lot of different ways. That’s a weapon when you got a kid who can do that on the defensive end, push it in transition and offensively create for herself or somebody else, special, special kid.”