Get to Know Future Wolverine Trey McKenney
5/2/2025 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
This is the finale of a three-part series in which Shira Black sits down with three signees for Michigan men's basketball.
By Shira Black
Michigan fans have been waiting for Trey McKenney -- and now, he's finally coming home.
The Wolverine signee was recently named a McDonald's All-American, an honor added to his already lengthy list of accolades that includes a gold medal at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup and back-to-back Michigan Associated Press Division 1 Basketball Player of the Year awards.
On the court, McKenney blows past defenders, knocks down perimeter shots and plays stifling defense. Off the court, there's even more to love.
Open his playlist and you'll find a moving blend of genres, jumping from R&B to hip-hop to rap. The expansive selection mirrors his playing style -- one in which you'll get exactly what you need, no matter the situation.
The five-star recruit described his game as similar to NBA stars Jalen Brunson and Devin Booker, noting their ability to score all over the court while initiating offense and playing lockdown defense.
But McKenney has dreams that go far beyond the four walls of Crisler Center. When discussing life at U-M, his passion for academics shone through as he spoke eagerly about attending classes and meeting new people.
"I think just being a student, I think that's just enough -- being a student at the University of Michigan is something that nobody can ever take away from you," McKenney said. "I mean, it's been a dream, not even just to be an athlete here, but to experience the student side as well. Going to the football games, being in the student section, midterms [...] just seeing what it's like being a student."
McKenney takes his studies seriously and is considering a degree in business or political science. This deep commitment to academics comes not only from his own aspirations but from those of his parents, who always pushed him to be more than just a basketball player. Constant pillars of support in his life, McKenney's parents, John and Jasmine McKenney, made time to attend all of his games and watch their son pursue his dreams -- even as he played and lived at a boarding school an hour from home.
McKenney is clearly appreciative of these sacrifices, stressing how much they've enabled him to play basketball at such a high level. His parents taught him that sacrifice is sometimes necessary, motivating him to dedicate early and late hours to improving his game and getting stronger.
A Flint man through and through, McKenney attributes part of this gritty mindset to his hometown.
"I just think when you come out of Flint, there's a toughness that you have," he said. "There's just a toughness and a skill of working hard when you come from Flint because you have to work for what you get."
Making the decision to stay home when your options include USC, Michigan State and Georgetown wasn't easy -- but McKenney is all in. The honor of representing his home state is one he doesn't take lightly.
"Having a lot of colleges after me, you got to find one that sticks out. I just felt like everything aligned with Michigan," McKenney said. "Being able to stay home and my family see me put on for my state and my city [...] is something that you can't pass on."
McKenney has ties to the University of Michigan that go beyond state allegiance -- his grandparents attended the university, leading to a lifelong affinity for the team. Reflecting on the origins of his basketball obsession, he remembers watching Coach John Beilein and the legendary 2013 squad featuring Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nik Stauskas that went all the way to the national championship game. McKenney couldn't help but be inspired to bring that same kind of success to Ann Arbor.
Sitting in Crisler Center in December and hearing thousands of fans cheer in anticipation of his arrival is a feeling McKenney will soon get used to. But for a high school senior who grew up a Wolverine fan, that first moment was indescribable.
"Going to games, you see a lot of people on a big screen, but you never really think it's gonna be you," McKenney said. "So, you know, it was definitely very surreal."
His excitement for this year's team is palpable, and McKenney already has goals for next season: to make a deep tournament run and win Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
But if you take anything away from this, it's that McKenney really loves the game of basketball.
"Loving the game -- that's all I know," he said. "Just loving the game and loving going to the gym every day and going to practice and seeing my teammates [...] just loving the grind I have to go through to hopefully reach my potential one day."
