How Heathwood Hall’s Keon McKinley is living up to his dad’s football legacy
As Heathwood Hall football players looked around the University of South Carolina’s indoor practice facility on Tuesday, one thing stood out.
The Highlanders were there to practice and get used to playing on turf in preparation for Friday’s SCISA 4A championship against Northwood Academy held at South Carolina State.
In the facility, though, there are pictures of Gamecock football greats plastered on the walls. One of the pictures held a special meaning for Heathwood Hall junior receiver Keon McKinley. He is the son of the late Gamecock receiver Kenny McKinley, whose picture — and No. 11 jersey — is mixed in with the collage of USC greats who made their mark for the Gamecocks.
Kenny McKinley was beloved at USC and played for the Gamecocks from 2005-2008 and left with records in catches (207), receiving yards (2,782) and consecutive games with a catch (43). Former USC coach Steve Spurrier called McKinley, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos, one of his favorite players he has coached during his career.
It wasn’t Keon’s first time in the facility. He has been there for 7-on-7 camps during the summer with Heathwood. He is a big Gamecock fan and attends plenty of USC football games with friends and mom Shayla Bethea and stepdad Gary Bethea.
‘I see a little bit of him in me’
Keon was an infant when his dad died by suicide in 2010 at age 23, but he has heard plenty of stories about the USC great from Kenny’s parents (his grandparents), who he remains close to, and other people throughout the years.
When Keon was 6, he attended the ceremony when his father was posthumously inducted into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
“My granddad will be showing me the highlights and everyone will say what kind of good player he was,” McKinley said. “I remember watching this one highlight of him in high school when he made four guys miss and took it 80 yards. I see a little bit of him in me. I feel like I am naturally gifted at the game because of him. And I try to do whatever I can on the field, and I think I can play any position on the field.”
McKinley used to wear his father’s No. 11 but switched back to No. 3, a number he wore in middle school. He knows there are expectations when people see his last name, but he is doing his best and trying to carve out his own path.
“There isn’t any pressure because at the end of the day I will make a name for myself,” Keon said. “I feel like living up to him in the back of my mind makes me go harder every time I put on the pads.”
Keon McKinley and Heathwood football
McKinley has been a do-it-all player for Heathwood this season in helping the Highlanders to their first state championship appearance since 2009. He plays receiver and cornerback when needed and had a big game as the Highlanders knocked off powerhouse Hammond, 16-13, to advance to the championship game.
McKinley caught a career-high 12 passes for 96 yards and had several key pass break-ups on defense as the Highlanders ended their 20-game losing streak to the Skyhawks on a last-second field goal.
“Keon is Mr. Everything for us,” Heathwood coach Tymere Zimmerman said. “He can play quarterback, receiver, defensive back, kick and punt returner. He does so much. He is a great kid and his athletic ability is through the roof.”
Zimmerman was friends with Keon’s late father and spent time with him when he would visit his old high school friend and former USC quarterback Syvelle Newton. He said there are similarities on and off the field with his late father.
“It is scary. He is every bit the spitting image (of Kenny),” Zimmerman said. “To see his face and then to think back about his father and how I was watching his dad play in college and looking forward to seeing Kenny and Sidney Rice play ... It has been so much fun getting to coach him. I think he is one of the best athletes in the state.”
How Keon ended up at Heathwood
McKinley attended Blythewood Middle School before transferring to Heathwood Hall before his freshman year. He and his family had a connection with Zimmerman, who was the junior varsity coach at the time. McKinley’s stepdad and Zimmerman are cousins and the two played at Marlboro County High School when the Bulldogs were a powerhouse in the state.
McKinley played on junior varsity as a freshman and then saw action last year before his breakout campaign this season. Now, he hopes he can help his Highlander team cap off their season with a state championship, something that hasn’t been done since 2004.
Northwood defeated Heathwood, 39-20, earlier this season.
“Most people say we are the underdogs so we are going to focus hard and make sure we can beat them,” McKinley said. “We are just going to enjoy the moment too and have fun playing football.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM with the headline "How Heathwood Hall’s Keon McKinley is living up to his dad’s football legacy."
