Portland Pilots guard leading NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The Portland Pilots women’s basketball team has a 15-2 and record this season and one of the reasons why is the steady hand of Southridge alum and senior point guard McKelle Meek.
She currently leads the country in assist to turnover ratio averaging 4.87 assists for every turnover and is averaging nearly a full assist more than the next closest player.
Meek, though, is almost as quick to deflecting to teammates on her assist to turnover prowess as she is passing to them.
“It’s an exciting achievement, but I feel like it’s more of a team effort because obviously my teammates have to knock down the shots for me to get the assists,” said McKelle.
In total, the floor general has had 73 assists and just 15 turnovers in 17 games this season. Meek took over the top spot in the statistical category after a career-high 11 assist, no turnover performance against Loyola Marymount last weekend.
“I mean, it felt really good,” Meek said of that game. “Obviously, we executed our out of bounds plays better so my teammates made the shots from that more so that felt good.”
McKelle clearly views being the best in this statistic as a team achievement, but her teammates are quick to point out her individual talents as well.
“She gives credit to the team for making shots, but I think the other half of it is that she doesn’t turn the ball over and that’s something she 100% takes care of herself,” said guard Emme Shearer. “She’s definitely such a safe hand and kind of a backbone in that regard of someone we always know is going to make the right decision, make the right pass, so I’m super thrilled for her, and it’s super exciting.”
One of the reasons why she is excelling? Well, it has to do with her dad and head coach Mike Meek.
“I’ve been playing in this system for years,” Meek said. “My dad coached my club team for a couple years in high school and then he coached my youth team for fourth grade to eighth grade, so we’ve ran the same stuff since I was a little kid.”
As for dad’s perspective on Meek's success this year?
“I’m proud (of) the fact that that’s who she wants to be as a player. I think scoring’s great, and I think you need players that can score, but you also need players who are willing to facilitate to the players that want to do the scoring,” said Mike Meek. “I think she’s done an awesome job of that.”