Benet’s Macy Menendez likely would be drawing interest from Division I coaches if she were taller.
But the 5-foot-5 senior guard is the shortest player on the team.
“Unfortunately, that’s my problem,” Menendez said.
Menendez, of course, can’t do anything about her height, but she’s great at controlling the things she can. That perseverance is why she has overcome a torn ACL to fill a vital role off the bench for the Redwings, who are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A in the poll by The Associated Press and have state title aspirations.
“It’s super cool,” Menendez said. “The team environment is just amazing, and I’m excited to play at the next level, so I’m hoping this will shape me for college.”
Menendez has committed to Rhodes College, a Division III school in Memphis. Her ascension is a heartwarming tale to her teammates, who watched her return to practice just four months after she suffered a torn ACL during a junior varsity game late in her sophomore season.
Menendez was healthy last season but was mostly rooted to the bench. She is usually the first or second player off the bench this season.
“She’s really playing with a lot more confidence this year,” Benet senior guard Sailer Jones said. “That confidence helps with everything else.
“Her defense has gotten a lot better, which is a big thing for our team, and then when she shoots the ball, she makes it. That picks everybody else up.”
Indeed, Menendez has a knack for producing in short stints. She’s making 42.3% of her 3-point shots and averaging 5.6 points.
Menendez is capable of producing big numbers when she gets extended playing time. She scored a career-high 23 points in the Redwings’ win over St. Francis on Dec. 22.
But what Menendez did Wednesday is more typical. She scored nine points on 3-for-3 shooting and had two rebounds as the host Redwings beat Carmel 51-35 in East Suburban Catholic Conference action in Lisle.
All three of Menendez’s shots were 3-pointers. She connected from both corners and the top of the key. Two of the shots came within seconds of her checking into the game, and the third gave her 100 points for the season.
“It’s a specialist kind of role, right?” Benet coach Joe Kilbride said. “Her and Ava Thomas and (Ava) Mersinger call themselves ‘The Snipers,’ but she does more than just shoot it for us.
“Obviously, she’s a very good basketball player. But she’s a great teammate, great kid, just brings a lot to the team off the floor.”
Menendez’s contributions have become more important since Jones suffered a torn ACL during practice last week. That seriously tests the depth of the Redwings (17-1, 7-0) but did not dent their confidence against Carmel (15-6, 5-2), which quickly fell behind 11-0.
“Especially now that we have been down with me getting hurt, it’s really big for her to come off the bench,” Jones said of Menendez. “We all have full faith that she’ll make every single shot that she takes, and she hasn’t proved us wrong yet, so we all have full confidence in her. She plays big.”
So how does a player come off the bench and immediately knock down shots?
“I just try not to think about it too much because if I think, then I get in my head,” Menendez said. “I just kind of play, put it all out there and do my best and help the team.”
Menendez, whose parents are 5-8, said she gets her shooting skill from her mother, Dana, who played at Pepperdine, where she still ranks third in career free-throw percentage and fifth in career 3-point percentage.
Menendez’s recovery from the torn ACL gave her perspective.
“Going through the recovery process really shaped me as a person and a player,” Menendez said. “I really realize how lucky I am to just play at any time, and I think that really transfers to the court.
“Any time I get a chance to be in the game, I just want to take advantage of that and have fun.”
Menendez also has a message for young players who take a similar career arc.
“Don’t give up,” she said. “I got in the gym every day, and I think that was my biggest thing, just every day get a little better, stay confident and trust that your time will come.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
