By Thomas Sellers Jr.
MEMPHIS — All the trophies, plaques and awards decorated one of the tables of Sherri Kay’s Bar & Grill April 1.
Keria McGhee’s basketball journey through youth hoops, the Memphis Central Lady Warriors and Millington Lady Trojans landed her in a position to choose her college future. While a few friends and family members knew the answer to her next stop, the arrival of Jackson State Lady GreenJays Kelvin Lester made it official.
Lester had the paperwork for McGhee and her parents Freddrick and Jamesia to sign and make Keria the latest addition to the Jackson State family.
“Exciting, overjoyed, never thought we would get this far,” Jamesia said.
“It’s come so fast,” Freddrick added. “She’s been playing ever since the first grade. She was in the third grade and we knew she had a special talent. She was just different from the average little girl who was playing. She could shoot better. She could dribble better. She would just run the floor better, like she’s been playing the game. She was just a natural.”
Keria’s God-given abilities were inherited from her father Freddrick who was a prep standout at Memphis East. Having an older brother who played collegiate sports and a younger brother who played varsity basketball as a freshman, Keria is the glue of the game for her family.
“(Basketball) was just fun,” Keria recalled. “I just enjoyed being in the gym. After seeing my dad, everybody says that my dad was so good. I know if he was good I could be good. I wanted to follow in his footsteps. So when I got in the gym I just wanted to have fun.”
Having fun following in her father’s footsteps, Keria has racked up 1,000 points in her prep career. She has been named a Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Girls All-Star. Millington Head Coach Jason Nichols awarded McGhee and fellow senior Micaiah Halliburton 2022 team MVP.
Jamesia said after two years at Memphis Central, the opportunity to attend Millington presented itself and Keria made the move to Flag City to play under the guidance of Nichols.
“It was a smooth transition,” she noted. “The coaching staff made it smooth. She adapted to the new surroundings and her new teammates were very welcoming. The only difference was the colors.”
Keria said Nichols was a familiar presence to her and she trusted the direction he was going to take her game and the Lady Trojan program.
“It really wasn’t that hard because I already knew Coach Jason and I knew he and Coach Antonio were going to look after me,” she said. “He was there my ninth and 10th grade year at Central. And being at Central I had a tough coach who pushed me through everything. I knew if he could push me I could get through anything.
“It feels great to know I came to a program and helped turn it around,” Keria added. “I know now everybody is going to remember Keria McGhee because I did everything I could on the court and off the court.”
McGhee and the Lady Trojans were one win away from Sub-State. Now the Millington All-Region player is ready to help the program of Lester reach new heights.
“On the visit everything just came here,” Jamesia said. “She loved the coach.”
“She’s within arms reach,” Freddrick added with a smile. “She just has her own mind. You won’t make a decision for her. She will make her own decision.”
Keria said Jackson State was the right place because of the atmosphere and it gives her a chance to reach her ultimate dream when it comes to basketball.
“It just felt like home,” she said. “It wasn’t too far and I liked the vibe. It’s like it fits me.
“After Jackson State, I hope and pray I go D-I so I can make it somewhere big,” Keria concluded. “I’m just going to keep working. I want to go pro one day.”
