Christians Play Growing Role in the Life of Former Loyola Lions Cager McKenzie

Forrest McKenzie returned to Loyola Marymount last weekend and his eyes lit up when he saw Paul Westhead’s latest high-scoring edition.

But McKenzie, now playing for Athletes in Action, is following a different light.

McKenzie once set a course for the National Basketball Assn. and appeared to be on his way when he blossomed into the career scoring leader for the Loyola Lions and a high NBA draft choice in 1986.

But McKenzie’s career has taken some unusual bounces in the last two years and now he is considering an even more drastic shift--going into the Christian ministry full time.

Athletes in Action bills itself as a Christian athletes association, a ministry on hardwood. The players, all former college and--in some cases--pro athletes, not only play against many of the top college teams in the country but also “testify” at halftime about the moral problems of American society and their answer: religious faith.

McKenzie spent parts of last season in the NBA, the Continental Basketball Assn. and, finally, playing in Israel. Ironically, it was there, in the seat of Judaism, that McKenzie said he began to examine his growing spiritual interest and commitment to Christ.

Less than three years out of college, McKenzie admits he could never have foreseen a sudden career shift into the full-time ministry. But playing ball on the fringes--a handful of games with Pensacola in the CBA, a season in the Middle East, a recent unsuccessful tryout with the Clippers--has given the 6-8 forward a new perspective on life as a pro ballplayer. Athletes in Action has been more rewarding, but the team plays a hectic schedule, crisscrossing the country wildly and playing games almost every night.

McKenzie, who scored 28 points against his old teammates Saturday and received a standing ovation when he left the game, was a persuasive speaker at halftime. Always well-liked and personable at Loyola, where he scored more than 2,000 points as a four-year letterman, McKenzie drew applause when he introduced himself:

“It’s an honor to be back here. . . . I used to be a basketball star at Loyola.”

But his talk was serious, concerning the flaws he saw in his character and his tests of faith, trying to reconcile his growing spiritual questions with the fast life style and temptations available to an attractive athlete. Now he faces another decision.

After the game he said, “I had aspirations of pro ball. (Now) I’m not looking for the pros. I might go (play) overseas again or I possibly could go full time into the ministry. It’s in the works.”

Winning Notes: Dean Smith (no, not that Dean Smith), a former student at Loyola Marymount, has been the regular singer of The Star-Spangled Banner before basketball games at Gersten Pavilion for several years. Last season he went undefeated--the Lions never lost when he sang.

Last week before the Oregon State game, however, Loyola let a student sing the national anthem. And the Lions lost their first home game in nearly two years--since the last time Smith didn’t sing.

Smith was back singing Saturday night. It was only an exhibition against Athletes in Action, but Loyola scored 146 points and was back on the winning track. Smith remains undefeated since 1986.

Toro Tidbits: Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s basketball team has won three straight and is coming off an impressive 84-60 home victory over San Francisco State. The Toros are shooting 52% in their last three games and forwards Kenyatta Kalisana, Segaro Bozart and Brian Johnson are shooting a combined 56%. Against San Francisco, they hit 11 of 17 shots. Bozart is shooting nearly 71% from the floor. The Toros are also hitting 41% from 3-point range, led by Johnson’s 4 of 6 and Brian Dell’Amico’s 6 of 9. The Toros are giving up only 61 points per game.

Senior center Anthony Blackmon, averaging 19.2 points, is 26 short of 1,000 in his career. He is also averaging 8 rebounds, and the Toros have a 1.4 rebound-per-game advantage over opponents. The Toros’ only stumbling block lately has been foul shooting, where the team is hitting 69%. Blackmon has made only 14 of 24 and Dell’Amico, who was hitting 90% a week ago, was only 1 for 6 against San Francisco.

College Notes

Paul Westhead, with a 60-33 record early in his fourth season as Loyola’s coach, is four victories away from moving into third place in Lion coaching victories. Ahead are Dave Benaderet (63), John Arndt (91) and Bill Donovan (107). In his college career Westhead is 202-138. . . . Dominguez Hills Coach Dave Yanai will be going for his 170th victory with the Toros when they play at Cal Lutheran on Saturday. Yanai, in his 12th season, is 169-129. . . . Cal State Northridge punter Trent Morgan was named most valuable player in Northridge team awards. The Serra High graduate, an All-Western Football Conference selection, helped the Matadors to a 6-5 season. . . . Chapman College guard Corine Sandfry scored a career-high 33 points in an overtime loss to Cal Baptist. The Bishop Montgomery High grad leads the Lady Panthers with a 16-point average. . . . Forward Connie McKenney will be back in uniform for the Dominguez Hills women’s basketball team, which next plays Tuesday at Fresno Pacific. The junior is recovering from a sprained ankle. Also back will be center Kathy Goggin, who missed the Lady Toros’ last game with an unusual excuse--she was in interviews as a Rhodes Scholarship finalist. . . . Loyola baseball Coach Chris Smith will conduct a Christmas baseball camp for boys ages 10 through 16 at Loyola’s Page Stadium Dec. 26-30. Tuition is $175, with proceeds going to the Lions baseball program. For information, call 642-3328 or 642-2765.