Kentucky State University Athletics

Linnell Jones-McKenney, was an outstanding female athlete growing up in the city of Flint, Michi-gan. She attended Flint Northwestern High School where she became one of the state’s
premier Track & Field and Basketball athletes. She was a three time All-City, All-County and All-State athlete in both sports.
 
Linnell attended Ferris State University as a freshman where she averaged 21.8 points per game and 12.4 rebounds a game. After her freshman year, she transferred to Kentucky State University on a full basketball scholarship. She instantly made her presence known as she earned two All-American honors during her sophomore and junior seasons. She led the team in scoring, assist, rebounds and steals. She was a defensive wizard as she had 108 steals during her two years at KSU. She also earned two athletic letters while attending KSU.
 
Before she was to return for her senior year, Linnell tried out for the 1980 United States Olympic team. She made history at KSU as she was the first female athlete to make an Olympic team. Even through the United States boycotted the Olympics games in Moscow, her hard work and desire to compete, never the less, help her achieve a lifelong goal.
 
Because of the success in the summer of 1980, Linnell did not return to KSU. She was drafted fourth, in the first round of the Women Professional Basketball league by the St. Louis Streaks. She played two seasons with the Streaks before being one of the first 15 Americans chosen to play for the European Professional League. Her talents have placed her in the Greater Flint Area Hall of Fame and the Greater Flint African American Hall of Fame.