Rogers’ James Signs With Arkansas

McKinzie James, second from right, signed a national letter of intent to play soccer for the Arkansas Razorbacks on Tuesday with her mom, Stephanie James, from left, Rogers soccer coach Steve Peck and her dad, Matt James.
McKinzie James, second from right, signed a national letter of intent to play soccer for the Arkansas Razorbacks on Tuesday with her mom, Stephanie James, from left, Rogers soccer coach Steve Peck and her dad, Matt James.

— Rogers High senior McKinzie James followed family tradition Tuesday afternoon.

James signed her national letter of intent to play soccer at Arkansas. She will be following her parents and her grandfather to Fayetteville. Her parents, Matthew and Stephanie, both attended Arkansas and her grandfather, Gary Wood, ran track and cross country for the Razorbacks.

“I knew that is where I wanted to go,” James said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but it is going to be fun.”

James has been Rogers’ leading scorer the past two seasons and she is the second Lady Mounties soccer play to sign with Arkansas. James is also on the Lady Mounties basketball team.

She is one of 11 players signed by Arkansas and coach Colby Hale said in a news release that James has a chance to contribute immediately. She is the only in-state player Arkansas has signed this spring.

Stephen Peck, who coached the Lady Mounties and Mounties the past two seasons, said he thinks that James will only get better in a Arkansas uniform. The Rogers girls will be coached by first-year coach Taylor Hayes this season while Peck is again the Mounties coach. Hayes is a former Lady Mounties soccer player.

“When I think of McKinzie, I think of a player that has energy in abundance, a personality that is infectious and soccer skill that is just going to continue to grow,” Peck said. “Her drive and desire to be the best, and bring the best out of her fellow teammates, is matched by few and looked on with envy and awe by others.”

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