PCA'S McClendon signs with MTSU
Prattville Christian’s Jenna McClendon signed a basketball scholarship with Middle Tennessee on Monday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
PRATTVILLE -- Jenna McClendon will never forget the day she suffered a season-ending knee injury in a game last season against Hoover High, but the Prattville Christian Academy center can look back at the transformational event now in a different light.
“It was really hard to accept the fact that I was not going to be able to finish the season,” she said. “But it was a blessing. It was really hard but I feel like without that injury, I would not be where I am today.”
On Monday, she signed her letter of intent to play collegiately at Middle Tennessee, becoming just the second PCA basketball player ever to sign with a Division I-A program.
“I was really excited,” she said. “I’ve been excited, I guess, for a while. It’s awesome.”
PCA coach Jason Roberson said the choice was a perfect one for a program that likes its post players to run the floor, something in which McClendon excels.
“Jenna has put in the work,” Roberson said. “I’ve seen her grow up. She’s improved her skills, she’s improved her defense, she’s improved just about every single area of her game. You don’t get to see all the things that she’s capable of in high school. Let’s be honest: every time the ball is entered into the post to Jenna, she’s going to see a double team and a triple team right away. She’s got D-I post moves right now, but she’s being double and triple teamed so she’s kicking it out (to open guards on the perimeter). She’s having to figure out how to score quick so she doesn’t have time for those moves. When she gets to the next level and teams don’t double her, I think you’ll be surprised at what she’s worked on and what she can do.
“The other thing she does that I’m just so proud of is she’s bought into sprinting the floor. Every elite post player is willing to sprint the floor. Rim-run is what we call it and she is an elite rim-runner.
McClendon was a quality reserve to post players CoCo Thomas and Hannah Jones during the Panthers’ state championship season of 2022-23 and was in the midst of a breakout season in 2023-24 when she suffered her season-ending injury. Despite the injury, Middle Tennessee never wavered in its recruitment of McClendon.
“It was the coaching staff,” McClendon said of her reason for choosing the school. “They were so invested in me and they were like, we want you. I got in contact with every single coach before I even went up there. I got in contact with the players when I was there. When I went up there, it was such a homely environment. It was truly amazing. When I got up there, it immediately clicked. This is where I belong.”
McClendon is one of six players -- and one of two post players -- to sign with the Blue Raiders during the early signing period.
"We are excited for Jenna and her family to join our program," Middle Tennessee coach Rick Insell said. "Jenna brings great athleticism inside. She can play both the ‘four’ and ‘five’ positions. She can score the ball around the basket. She can defend both inside and outside. She comes from a winning tradition and high school. She comes from a great family and we feel like she could have a huge career here."
McClendon spent her seven-month rehabilitation period working on her shooting, but said she will have to bulk up to play the post at the college level.
“I can definitely be more physical and my offensive rebounding can always get better,” she said. “The moments that I do play, I want to stand out so I’m definitely working on everything but specifically being a threat on the court.”
There have been plenty of quality basketball players to play for Prattville Christian, including Thomas and Jones, but only Kristen Emerson (Troy) managed to sign and play at the Division I-A level. It’s something, McClendon admitted, that she has heard in the past from Roberson.
“He’s mentioned it before and hearing it again, it’s good,” she said. “I love to hear that.”