While a glimmering athletic lineage usually puts a target on your back, Kayleigh Heckel’s story is a tad bit different. Growing up with two brothers, Corey and Tyler, she learned basketball amongst boys and formed a habit of being counted out. Pushed around and roughed up, playing with boys sure made her upset, but it’s exactly what she credits today for her toughness and work ethic. “My family and my circle believe in me. I believe in myself. And that’s enough,” Heckel said.

The underdog tag has stuck to Heckel like glue, and although that helps drive her hunger, it is far from the truth. Ranked no.13 in the class of 2024, she received both McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand All-American honors to commemorate a highly accomplished high school career before she moved to USC. Entering the transfer portal in her sophomore season now, Kayleigh Heckel looks for a new home, and while it remains to be seen which fanbase would cheer her on, she’ll be at peace knowing her family has her back. “Whether he’s watching in the stands or from his couch, he always texts me after games,” she said of her grandfather, who was also a professional athlete. “No one understands the hard work and the sacrifice better than those who have done it before me.” Nicknamed K-9, there isn’t a speck of doubt she has that dawg in her, and any team that gets their hands on her will know the bark is no match for her bite.

Who are Kayleigh Heckel’s parents? What is their nationality?

Kayleigh’s parents are Walter and Donna Heckel. They both went to St. John’s University. Their families have both lived in New York for most of their lives, and they’ve also raised their three children, Kayleigh, Tyler, and Corey, there.

Wally and Donna have been huge role models for Kayleigh, both athletically and personally. Even though her mom played softball and her dad was a baseball star, she still believes they’ve been a source of inspiration to her sporting career. “All sports are connected by the same principle of trying to get a little bit better everyday,” the fourth-generation athlete said. “The work ethic that I’ve learned from my family has helped me become the basketball player that I am today. “

Who is Kayleigh Heckel’s father, Wally? Was he an MLB player?

Wally Heckel is Kayleigh’s father. A Queens product, he played baseball at St. John’s University and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 12th round of the MLB draft. While Wally did not play in the Major League, he did feature in the minor league for two seasons, playing for the Blue Jays’ minor league affiliate. During this period, he played in a total of 132 games, accumulating 417 at-bats and scoring 68 runs on 93 hits, including 11 doubles. He recorded 25 runs batted in and stole 28 bases, making his final minor league batting average .223 with an on-base percentage of .352 and a slugging percentage of .249.

Her paternal athletic lineage extends far beyond her father, as the family has lived on the diamond ever since her great-grandfather played in the minor league. Wally Heckel Sr., her grandfather, played for the Dodgers, spending five professional seasons with them during the 1960s.

Who is Kayleigh Heckel’s mother, Donna? What does she do?

While Donna Heckel isn’t a professional athlete, she excelled as a collegiate athlete, playing softball at St. John’s. The athletic genes are certainly deep on both sides of Kayleigh’s family, as her maternal grandfather, Ricardo (Rico) Dos Anjos, was a basketball player. Having played in the Long Island University and the Eastern Pennsylvania Professional League himself, he would surely be proud of the boldness his granddaughter exudes on the court.

While her grandfather lived in Port Chester, New York, for all his life, it is highly probable that Kayleigh Heckel’s grandfather, Rico Dos Anjos, has Portuguese roots, judging by his last name. While it is not confirmed, Kayleigh’s desire to visit Portugal could be a result of this.

Does Kayleigh Heckel have any siblings?

Kayleigh has two elder brothers, Corey and Tyler. They have an extremely close relationship as she started playing basketball with them. Being her brothers, they never took it easy on her, and that is where her competitive K-9 spirit has originated from. While Kayleigh Heckel is far from the kid who would get pushed around by guys, she still holds the underdog mentality, which she got from her brothers. “That belief, even from 3,000 miles away, gives me all the confidence I need.”