Matthew McKenzie and the #16 takoma Academy Tigers

By Josh Boyko

The 2025-2026 Takoma Academy Tigers are ranked #16 in the entire state of Maryland.

2 Chronicles 15:7- Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

The game of basketball is one of the most diverse cultures in sports. There’s a unique level of competitiveness that comes with the culture. If you ask a Seventh-day Adventist basketball player about the outsiders' view of Adventist players, you’ll probably hear them reply “slept on,” “soft,” “church boy.” But for one AdventistHoops All-American, he’s out to shift the narrative with his gameplay and work ethic.

Matthew McKenzie and his cousin Micah Samuels grew up in Maryland with a love of the game. They rose through the ranks as a dynamic duo, but it all started with church league. 

“My parents didn't play, but a lot of my cousins, my family around me, they did play. So around five or six, that's when I started in the church league setting. I know a lot of us SDA hoopers, we started in church league when we were little kids but that was my route. I go to Capitol Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church. I've been going there for my whole life basically and that's where I started in church league,” said McKenzie.

2025 AdventistHoops All-American Matthew McKenzie leads Takoma Academy into the postseason.

McKenzie’s church league foundation grew his game quickly and accelerated his development at Takoma Academy (TA) under Coach David Credle. “Matt can score at all three levels. He's a pretty decent defender as well. He's also an excellent rebounder and he blocks shots too. He's only about 6'2" so he does a little bit of everything and he's a good leader becoming a better leader. For two years he had Micah Samuels, so he could sit back and just play his role. But now he's got to step up and be a leader as well,” said Credle.

The junior guard is now leading by example, averaging nearly 22 points per game, hitting the milestone of 1,000 career points, and pushing his team to a #16 ranking in the state of Maryland. “Our season, it's had some ups and downs, but I feel like we're on this steady trend up, and we'll make a great run in Maryland private schools. Hopefully make it all the way to state and win our conference championship,” says McKenzie.

Takoma Academy boys head coach David Credle believes his team’s ceiling has yet to be reached.

Credle says the team can achieve even more than the high bar they’ve already set if they play at their fullest capabilities. “We just have to keep pushing, keep playing, keep doing what we're capable of. It means a lot for this team. I think this team has not overachieved or underachieved but I think they've just achieved, period. The rest of the way is the sky's limit. We have talent.”

Credle sang the praises of his team’s depth and secondary contributors like Aidan Hart averaging about 17 points and 7 assists per game, and Nick Parris averaging nearly 15 points and 8 rebounds per contest. The group doesn’t boast a lot of size—Credle calls it an “all guard team”—but they do have the length and physicality to win the rebounding game.

Takoma Academy senior guard Aidan Hart is averaging 17 points and 7 assists per game for the Tigers.

The Tigers put those skills on display at the 2026 Southwestern Adventist University Hoops Classic tournament, making an appearance in the championship game. McKenzie is no stranger to tournament environments with his experience on the AAU circuit, but admits there’s something different about the Adventist tournament atmosphere. “When I go to these Adventist communities, I feel all the love that they show me, especially as an Adventist basketball player myself. Seeing that I've been an All-American, they just show me love and support. And even whenever I make a post I just see all these Adventist people giving me encouragement. It's a great environment to be in.”

AdventistHoops All-American Matthew McKenzie (right) says his cousin and Takoma Academy alumnus, Micah Samuels (left), has had a big impact on him.

Besides McKenzie’s standout play and a complete team behind him, he also strives to contribute to the school’s basketball legacy. TA has developed many talented players over the years that have gone on to play and coach in Division 1 college basketball, and even play in the NBA. McKenzie strives to be another graduate to play beyond high school, following the path of his cousin Micah Samuels.

“Micah has always inspired me, honestly, from a young age. He's always had that “it factor” about him, that tenacity that I just tried to pick up myself in his stead. I feel like him going to play at WAU (Washington Adventist University) is very inspiring to me. Just to see him doing big things on a greater level, I feel like I just want to follow in his footsteps.”

McKenzie recalls times that others didn’t understand his observance of the Sabbath, but says he uses it to his advantage getting closer to God and resting before shifting into gameday mindset. “They're not judgmental of it, but they're confused. They see it as a hindrance. But yeah, when they eventually see how I act and how I move, it makes more sense to them and they see that it's fulfilling. On Saturday I'll have church in the morning, then a game right after sunset so it's a quick turnaround. In the morning, I like to calm down, meditate, reflect, go to church, have fellowship with my congregation and my family. And then once that hits sunset, I have to flip that switch and turn into the hooper mode where I go out and have fun, play to the best of my abilities, keep the same character and standards, but play competitively to win. You may not know someone is Adventist, but don't sleep on them. They can really show you up, and I feel like I show that through my game.”