The Highland Park basketball court dedication is scheduled for Friday

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) – The former NBA player and Meridian native will be in Meridian for a special naming ceremony in his honor.

“I think it’s a great and well-deserved honor,” said Parks and Recreation Director Thomas Adams.

Adams worked to improve recreation areas managed by the city of Meridian. Recently, the basketball courts at Highland Park were resurfaced and now they are named after a Meridian athlete.

“They’re going to be named after Derrick McKay,” Adams said

McKay graduated from Meridian High School in 1984 before playing basketball at Alabama. He was the ninth overall pick in the 1987 draft. He spent 15 years in the NBA.

“These courts didn’t have names on them,” Adams said. “I just said maybe Derrick is the subject because he was the first Meridianite to play in the NBA. It makes all the sense in the world.”

Mackay has hosted a basketball camp in Meridian for more than two decades. Adams said his love for the city runs deep and he believes the courts should be named after the Meridian native.

“He’s got some guys who played in the NBA to help out in camp. I think it’s really important for a person to give back to the community where he was born and raised. It’s great.”

The naming ceremony will be held on Friday (October 21, 2022) at noon at Highland Park. Adams said more courts are getting changes and new names.

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