Freshmen Duo of Shinney and Kinney Making Immediate Impact

Posted: Jan 16, 2024

Written by Michael Clapprood '25
- Endicott Athletics Sports Information Assistant

BEVERLY, Mass. — Women's basketball freshman do-it-all point guard Emma Shinney (Wakefield, Mass.) and freshman men's basketball double-double machine Elijah Kinney (Nashville, Tenn.) have made quite the impact in their first seasons in Beverly.

The pair both come from athletic backgrounds, as Shinney's mother, Mary Beth, was a dual-sport athlete in basketball and soccer at UMass Dartmouth.

Kinney's father was a multi-sport student-athlete at the University of Florida taking part in basketball and football.

Erron Kinney continued his football career with the Tennessee Titans in the National Football League (NFL) playing tight end for five seasons (2000-2005).

Both first-years have opened the eyes of coaches in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) and nationally.

EMMA SHINNEY: THE PLAYMAKER

Shinney, an exercise science major, has set the table for the Gulls this season as the floor general.

If you look at the Endicott stat package, Shinney will have her name sprinkled in about every category. She leads the Blue and Green with 6.1 assists per game, 85 total assists, and 476 minutes played. She ranks second in points per game (11.4), total points (159), field goals (66-150), field goal percentage (44.0%), steals (22), and third in rebounds per game (6.1).

Her model of consistency and well-rounded playing style make her start to the season so tremendous.

Shinney is one of two players in the conference to be top five in assists, assist/turnover ratio, and minutes played.

Shinney's elite court vision, pace, and leadership slot her at seventh in DIII in assists per game and sixth in total assists in the 2023-24 campaign.

She also leads all freshmen in assists per game by one assist (next closest is 5.1).

Additionally, she is the only player in Division III averaging 10+ points, six-plus assists, and six-plus rebounds per game.

"What I have usually found is that I can help develop these skills to shine simultaneously over the course of a three-to-four-year period. Emma is doing all of it now and it comes naturally to her," said head coach Brittany Hutchinson.

Her breakout games feature two near triple-doubles courtesy of 10 points, nine assists, and eight boards against Suffolk (12/5/23), and in the very next game against Salem State, Shinney netted a career-high 22 points, snatched 10 rebounds, and dished out nine assists.

These near-record-breaking performances would have been the first triple-doubles in program history.

Shinney holds four of the six best assist outbursts in the conference, including a league-best 11 dimes against Principia (12/29/23).

As for the record books, that performance places her tied for second all-time in assists in a single contest with Gabriella Coppola '18.

Meanwhile, Jen McBrien '13 holds the all-time assists record in a game with 12 feeds against Salve Regina on November 28, 2012.

"A true point guard is an invaluable piece to have on the floor. Historically, our most successful teams have all had one, but they are tough to come by," Hutchinson explained.

Shinney's 6.1 APG this season is second behind Endicott Hall of Famer Heidi Stevens Fazzina '00 with 6.4 assists a game in 1997-98.

Her basketball IQ has been on full display this year, as 32.3% of Endicott's estimated buckets are assisted by Shinney while she's been on the floor (Per StatCrew).

Additionally, Shinney ranks second in +/- per game with 9.4 (indicates whether a team outscores or is outscored by its opponent when the team or athlete is on the floor; per HUDL).

She's accomplished all of this, so far, through her ability to balance the responsibilities of handling the ball, dictating the tempo, operating ball screens, scoring, defending, and showcasing leadership qualities, on and off the court.

"She will still grow, of course, and there's a lot more to come, but what she is providing our team right away as a first-year is really remarkable," Hutchinson said.

Shinney will look to become the fourth conference Rookie of the Year in program history.

The prestigious list includes current junior forward Sarah Dempsey (Windham, N.H.), Cassandra Stapelfeld, and Hannah Shaw '18.

Shinney has earned Rookie of the Week honors three times this season (12/11/23, 1/2/24, 1/8/24).

ELIJAH KINNEY: THE HIGHLIGHT FACTORY

On the men's side, Kinney, a finance major, has been a revelation for the Gulls, making his money in the paint. Kinney leads the team with 55.1% shooting from the floor (75-136).

The six-foot-seven freshman forward has supplied 15.7 PPG, 204 points, 10.3 RPG, 3.4 offensive rebounds per game, 1.0 blocks per game, and seven double-doubles early in his career on the North Shore.

Kinney's relentless work on the interior allows him to be the only player who averages a double-double in the CCC.

"I am most impressed with Elijah's ability to impact the game in a number of different ways at such an early stage of his career," stated head coach Kevin Bettencourt.

Kinney's play style is becoming more and more dynamic as the 2023-24 season goes on; he has attempted 20 three-pointers in the last four games – in his first nine appearances, he shot 18 in total.

This gives him the ability to drag taller defenders out to bonus distance, and eventually opens up the paint — where he flourishes.

It also creates shooting and dribble-drive space for his teammates to score efficiently.

Kinney is the only freshman big man in Division III averaging a double-double while shooting 35-plus percent from three-point territory this season.

His efficiency on the court is portrayed through a team-best .603 effective field goal percentage (adjusts to include additional points from 3FGs, per 50 minutes total played; per StatCrew).

"We have a veteran group and Elijah was still able to come in and earn everyone's respect with his approach and willingness to do what the team needs to help us improve," said Bettencourt.

Additionally, Kinney ranks 28th in DIII in rebounds per contest and is tied for 38th in offensive boards.

Kinney owns three of the top seven rebounding performances in the conference highlighted by 18 snags at the University of New England (11/29/23), which is tied for fourth all-time in a single game in program history, and 16 boards against Saint Joseph's (Me.) (12/13/23).

In a standout performance at No. 24 nationally-ranked Middlebury, Kinney led the way with a career-best 25 points and collected 15 rebounds.

Kinney had his best all-around performance against Curry on January 4 courtesy of a 24-point eruption, 12 rebounds, and three steals. Additionally, it was his layup in the low post that won the game for the Gulls with just under a second remaining.

The ability to play through the strong skill set of Kinney down low on the blocks and in the lane opens up opportunities for everyone else on the perimeter too.

Kinney is looking to become the seventh student-athlete to earn conference Rookie of the Year honors, potentially joining current teammates Jeff Hill (Lynn, Mass.) and Jalen Echevarria (Lynn, Mass.) in the record books.

"He keeps a positive attitude regardless of the situation and that will serve him well as his career progresses. I think he is only scratching the surface of what he can do at Endicott," Bettencourt said.

The tandem of Shinney and Kinney will look to guide their squads to a much-desired conference championship this year, and hopefully for years to come in Beverly.