It’s Not Easy To Slow Down UK Commit Maddyn Greenway

Maddyn Greenway had 40 points in the Minnesota state title game to lead her team to a fourth straight state title. (Providence Academy Photo)

Almost every team that Providence Academy played last season tried to design something to slow down junior guard Maddyn Greenway, a prolific scorer and University of Kentucky commit.

“Everybody tried to slow her down but every year she gets more efficient and her assists go up,” said Providence Academy coach Conner Goetz.

Greenway averaged 32.8 points per game last season and scored 1,050 points  in 32 games — her third straight year with more than 1,000 points. She shot 58.6 percent from 2-point range, 37.7 percent from 3 and 52 percent overall. She had 278 assists, 232 rebounds and 155 steals.

“To shoot almost 38 percent 3 with a high volume (241) of shots and having to take tough shots off the dribble was remarkable. Her range really starts when she crosses half court,” Goetz said. “She is just effortless. She has the strongest lower body ever. Her soccer body translates so well to the basketball court.”

Her team went undefeated and won its fourth straight state title, something no other Minnesota high school team had ever done, and she scored 14 unanswered points in the game sparked by four steals. She finished with 40 points on 16 of 27 shooting, six steals and five assists.

Greenway, the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year, no longer surprises her coach with what she does on the court.

“You cannot put expectations on this kid, so I am not surprised by anything she does,” Goetz said. “She has a special drive and work ethic. She had 60 points in a game her freshman year. This year she had a 51-point game. We played the best teams in the state and the best in Iowa and Wisconsin.”

Greenway has started on the varsity team for five years and has 4,454 points in 153 games — an average of 29.1 points per game. She also has 1,036 assists along with 999 rebounds and 645 steals. She’s made 355 3-pointers.

Goetz said it has basically been “radio silence” from other schools since Greenway committed to Kentucky.

“Nobody has tried any funny business. I think that is partially due to respect for (UK) coach (Kenny) Brooks,” Goetz said.

The Providence coach also knows Greenway’s best basketball remains ahead of her. She’s on pace to become Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer in soccer and is also a state champion in track. The family went on spring break to Costa Rica after basketball ended but then both Greenway and her younger sister, Becca, jumped into track as soon as they got back to Minnesota.

“Other kids that have specialized in basketball for years hit their limit sooner. Maddyn does not go full-time basketball year-round. I think when she gets to college and it is just basketball the UK coaches are going to develop her even more just like they did (All-American) Georgia (Amoore),” Goetz said.

Goetz said Amoore had been “super gracious” helping Greenway, age 17, any way possible.

“I loved watching Georgia’s growth and I cannot wait to see Maddyn at that level. She has such a competitive drive,” he said. “In the state championship game they used a 2-3 zone to slow her down and clog up driving lanes. She is one of the most athletic players in the country. She only  had one turnover the whole game and with her usage rate that is pretty remarkable against a really good team.”

That team included 5-11 guard Tori Oehrlein, a four-star prospect committed to Minnesota. She had also scored over 4,000 career points.

“Maddyn takes it personally when she is challenged. A lot of people on social media go after her and people in the stands say things to her,” Goetz said. “If you do, she will rip you to pieces. When fans chant ‘overrated’ at her, it’s like putting blood in the water and just sets her off.”

Even though she plays three sports at a high level, Greenway has been relatively injury free.

“She is tough as nails. She takes crazy hits. She has an unbelievable pain tolerance,” Goetz said. “She leads the team in charges taken. A little of that comes from her dad (former NFL linebacker Chad Greenway). She can push herself to exhaustion.

“It’s really cool when your best player will sacrifice her body like she does. No one else can make excuses because if she does it, other players know they need to do that.”