Like Saniya Chong (former Ossining star and UConn Guard) and Avery Labarbera (Harrison/Holy Cross) before her, Port Chester’s Kayleigh Heckel possesses a beyond her years level of talent that has immense projections surrounding the eighth grader at Port Chester.
After averaging a County-best 28.2 points (28th in the country according to Max Preps) and posting multiple games of 40+ points, Heckel’s complete basketball package is felt through multiple statistical categories.
She averaged 8.1 steals and 4.3 assists in her inaugural varsity campaign, with multiple games of double digit steals.
The class of 2024 prospect is earning an uptick in interest from some of the country’s heavy hitters. Texas Tech and LIU-Brooklyn recently offered the highly skilled, high-scoring point guard, programs such as UCLA, Virginia Tech, Washington State, and George Washington are also actively recruiting Heckel.
Having hit 50 3-pointers in her debut season and showing the type of range and attacking that poses matchup difficulties across Section 1, lofty expectations are sure to follow Heckel.
She scored 34 points and pick pocketed a program record 13 steals during a wowing single game performance against Carmel, according to LOHUD.
Heckel erupted for 41 points during a win over Riverside. On a team which significantly lacks offensive firepower and an experienced scorer, the 5-foot-7 guard seized the reins with an instant impact which leaves lofty aspirations ahead.
With the Coronavirus pandemic slowing down the recruiting process and some programs adverse to recruiting a player who still hasn’t entered high school yet, it all has done nothing to impact Heckel. The aforementioned programs are trying to get an early advantage on the prominent young talent, several coaches even vowing to offer her as soon as the pandemic smoke clears and they can see her live.
Heckel is already on a scoring pace to eclipse the 1,500-point milestone. With her stout on-ball defensive aptitude and ability to deliver pocket passes and kick start the offensive attack fresh off a defensive rebound, other lofty projections will follow.
She is currently playing for the prestigious Empire State Blue Flames. The top-tier program has helped cultivate the talent of several notable prospects, including Northwestern-commit Melannie Daley of Hastings.
Heckel has a noteworthy athletic bloodline. Her father, Queens product Wally Heckel, played baseball at St. John’s University and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 12th round of the MLB draft.
Her grandfather, Wally Heckel Sr., played five professional seasons with the Dodgers in the 1960s. Heckel’s mother, Donna Heckel, starred as a softball player at St. John’s University. Her grandfather, Port Chester native Ricardo (Rico) Dos Anjos, authored a legendary basketball career at nearby Stepinac High School and Long Island University–Brooklyn.
