2025 Trey McKenney of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (MI) and Meanstreets (IL) is one of the top players in his class and the next one to come out of Flint, Michigan. His ties to the community go back family generations as his aunt Linnell Jones-McKenney was the first woman from Flint to play professional basketball and his grandfather Woodrow Stanley was the city’s former mayor. A 6’4” combo guard named to the 2022 MaxPreps Freshman All-America second team, McKenney averaged 16.5 points and 6.3 rebounds this past season in high school. Only scratching the surface of his upside, he has already received double-digit college offers, including Arizona State, Michigan, Texas, and Illinois, among others, with the expectation of more schools to follow suit.
As part of the Pro Insight Q&A series, McKenney highlighted modeling his game after LeBron James and Paul George, receiving mentorship from Flint native and Hornets forward Miles Bridges, being involved with local community initiatives, and more.
For the next installment of the Pro Insight Q&A series, we present 2025 prospect Trey McKenney, from Flint, Michigan:
Pro Insight: How did you get to where you are today? Talk a bit about your background and family.
Trey McKenney: Well, I started playing basketball around six or seven [years old] and I'm from Flint, Michigan. Flint, it’s like really a basketball city, so I feel like the ball was put in my hands from an early age.
PI: Monte Morris and Miles Bridges also grew up in the Flint area — what’s your relationship with those guys?
TM: Yeah, I look up to them, but when they're in town, we like to always do a pro run with them in it and they just hope people like me get better in the city.
PI: Any other athletes in the family?
TM: Well, my aunt, she was one of the first professional basketball players to ever come out of Flint. Everybody really played basketball, but nobody really made it like that.
PI: Did you play any other sports growing up?
TM: Nah, just strictly basketball.
PI: When did you primarily start to focus on basketball?
TM: I feel like probably around when I started traveling in AAU, so like probably around sixth grade, I started taking this seriously.
PI: For those who aren’t familiar with your game, what are your greatest strengths and playstyle?
TM: I'm a combo guard that can play both the one and the two and can score from all three levels and defend my position.
PI: Who do you model your game after or study on film?
TM: I like LeBron and I like Paul George.
PI: What type of leader are you?
TM: Vocal, pretty vocal, and like I play with intensity so it helps my teammates get up.
PI: What would you say was the most memorable moment of your freshman high school season?
TM: It was probably when we beat our rival Brother Rice in the District 28 Championship, 'cause they beat us two times in the regular season. So we just had to end it out, get it, and get ‘em.
PI: What are your current measurements?
TM: My height is 6’4”. My wingspan is 6’8”. My weight is 200 [pounds].
PI: What do you feel you still need to improve on the most? What have you been working on?
TM: I'll probably say extending my range a little bit more.
PI: Do you have a specific training regimen?
TM: Well, I work on a lot of floaters and touch shots around the rim. It warms me up.
PI: What are your short term goals you have for yourself as a player?
TM: Get a state championship.
PI: Who has been the toughest individual matchup you’ve ever faced?
TM: Probably Meleek Thomas out of Pennsylvania.
PI: Describe your experience with Meanstreets.
TM: It's just great, 'cause they’ll bring us all together and we're like 15s, 16s, 17s, we all just support each other and it's like a brotherhood and I feel like I can’t get that anywhere else.
PI: Who have you enjoyed playing with on Meanstreets?
TM: Probably Melvin Bell.
PI: How do you see your role at the next level?
TM: I feel like my role will be when it's crunch time for me to get buckets, 'cause I feel like that's my specialty. I can score at all three levels.
PI: Clock’s ticking down, ball is in your hands — what’s your go-to move?
TM: An in-and-out, pull-up jumper.
PI: Did you have a dream school growing up?
TM: Not really, I didn’t really watch a lot of schools — but I like a lot of schools, though.
PI: Who have you been hearing from the most, lately?
TM: I've probably been hearing from Michigan and Iowa State the most, lately.
PI: There are a lot more post-grad options available these days with G League Ignite, OTE, and NBL, among others. Have you and your family done much research into those opportunities?
TM: We haven’t really done research on it. My family, they say just when that time comes, we'll just talk about it as a family.
PI: What will ultimately be the deciding factors when making your choice?
TM: I will consider whether it will improve me for the next level after that, if it will push me to be a better player.
PI: What are your biggest interests outside of basketball?
TM: I like fishing a lot.
PI: What's the biggest fish you've ever caught?
TM: I don't really measure my fish, but I've caught a big silver bass, before.
PI: Who are your favorite music artists?
TM: Probably Drake.
PI: If you were stuck forever on a deserted island and had all the food, water, and shelter you needed — what three personal items would you bring?
TM: Probably my two sisters and my mom.
PI: You have one hashtag to describe yourself. What is it?
TM: #chill.
PI: If you woke up tomorrow to see a fortune in your bank account, what would be your first purchase?
TM: Get my family a house.
PI: If you weren’t pursuing a career as a professional hooper, what do you think you would choose to do?
TM: I’d pursue engineering.
PI: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
TM: Probably to just stay focused and not worry about critics.
PI: Who’s someone you really look up to?
TM: Miles Bridges.
PI: How has he encouraged you in your journey?
TM: He told me “don't worry about rankings and stuff. It’s gonna come. Just be patient.”
PI: Are you an introvert or extrovert?
TM: I feel like I could be both. I can be both, at times.
PI: You’re class president and you also have a platform — can you elaborate a bit more on your involvement in your hometown community?
TM: Oh, well, yeah. We do a lot for like the water and stuff, 'cause like some of it is still bad in Flint. I want to be able to help my community.
PI: Besides the NBA, where do you see yourself in five years?
TM: Inspiring people like me right now to be better and that they can do it, too.
PI: Name four words that best describe you.
TM: Funny, hardworking, nice, and kinda shy.
PI: At the end of the day, what do you hope to be remembered for?
TM: Probably a player that just gave it his all and worked hard and had no regrets. A funny, nice person that people can always come to and laugh and have fun.