Western Kentucky teammates/roommates Macey Blevins, left, and Mya Meredith are both transferring to Northern Kentucky.
Leaving Western Kentucky was not an easy decision for former Wayne County standout Macey Blevins, a 2,000-point scorer in high school who graduated with nine school records.
However, Blevins felt it was something she had to do and she is transferring to play for coach Camryn Whitaker at Northern Kentucky University.
“I debated about a month or so before deciding I had to put myself and my mental health first,” said Blevins. “Surrounding myself with people who have the same morals as you is really important. I am sad to be leaving but also glad for a new start.”
It’s not like Blevins was not playing for the Hilltoppers. She played in 63 games in two years with 33 starts, including 26 her freshman year. Blevins was 13th in Conference USA with 1.53 3-pointers per game her freshman year — the most on the team — and scored in double figures 11 times. She averaged 4.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per game her sophomore year.
“It wasn’t just a basketball decision,” Blevins said. “I had a rough couple of years there. I appreciate all they did for me but it just got to the point I couldn’t be there any more.
“Camryn recruited me in high school. I had to call and tell her when I committed to Western. She told me then I would always have a home here if I was not happy. She was the first person to call me when I put my name in the transfer portal.
“It was kind of scary going into the portal. There are 500 or more kids in there. You kind of just take a chance that something will work out but I knew I wasn’t going to stay at Western.”
She felt like her game “stagnated” at Western. She was an all-around player in high school who primarily played point guard or wing. At Western she felt like her freshman year she was just there to shoot 3’s.
“It gets to you mentally when you know you can do other stuff,” she said. “I needed to be coached. Both my parents were coaches and coached me at home even. That is how I have been successful. I need somebody on me. I didn’t get that and Western and I let myself go which was on me.
“Mentally being away from home and traveling for games, it was an adjustment and I got in a bad place mentally. Once you get in that slump, it’s hard to get out of it if you do not have the right people encouraging and pushing you. My sophomore year I just lost all confidence and just never got it back. I just need a place where everybody is held accountable.
“I am not saying the coaches beat me down. I just felt I was in a negative environment and just decided I needed a fresh start. I have never struggled with mental stuff like that before. I went online with my classes and moved out of Bowling Green. I am back home now, doing very well and will move to Northern June 4.”
Three other Western players are also transferring — their names no longer are even on the 2022-23 roster listed on the Western website. That includes Blevins’ roommate, Mya Meredith, a 5-11 guard from Newport who is also transferring to Northern Kentucky. She was Conference USA Freshman of the Year despite missing the last eight games with an injury when she averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. She was the team’s third leading scorer and second leading rebounder last season.
“Mya was my best friend at Western,” Blevins said. “She is a killer for sure and I am excited to have her coming to Northern, too.”
Whitaker is glad to have them both joining her team.
“Both bring a unique skill set that will elevate our program in numerous ways,” Whitaker said in a school release. “They are strong, physical guards who can score in a variety of ways. Norse Nation is going to love watching these two play over the next two years.”
Blevins knows she’ll likely be playing a wing position for Whitaker.
“At Western I did not really know what I was. I was even thrown in at the 4 (power forward) because we were really small,” Blevins said. “But I will definitely be a wing (at Northern) and that’s what I do best.”
