Kensley Feltner grew up just an hour from Morehead State, so when the opportunity came to transfer closer to home, the decision felt like fate. The Kentucky native had always been familiar with the campus and community, but it was the people who truly sealed her commitment.
"The people here at MSU make the place," she said. "Coach Jackie (Alexander) has been nothing but amazing. I have so much gratitude for her believing in me to come and play here."
Coach Jackie Alexander's belief in Feltner wasn't new—it dated back to high school, when she recruited her as an assistant at ETSU.
"When Coach Jackie called me saying that she wanted me to come play for her, I knew all my prayers had been answered," Feltner said.
The chance to play for someone she trusted, in a place that felt like home, made Morehead State the perfect fit.
"The environment here at Morehead State promotes growth and confidence," she added. "Coach Jackie has done an amazing job at setting the tone early with the standard and the culture she wants our team to lead so we can gel on and off the floor."
Returning to Kentucky meant more than just coming home—it meant representing the state and community that raised her.
"I have so much pride being from the Bluegrass State," Feltner said. "I love my hometown of Louisa, Kentucky. It will always be home for me no matter how far away I go."
Playing in the 606 again brought a renewed sense of purpose.
"It just means so much more when you're from here," she said. "The people in this area are amazing and I couldn't be happier to be repping Morehead State this season."
For Feltner, the best moments on the court aren't about personal stats—they're about shared energy.
"The best feeling during a game is celebrating with my teammates," she said. "When someone gets an and-1 and our entire team is celebrating each other, it brings us all together and can give us a lot of momentum."
That team-first mentality has become a cornerstone of Morehead State's culture under Coach Jackie, and Feltner has embraced it fully.
Athletics run deep in Feltner's family. Her father played baseball at Alice Lloyd College, her mother played basketball there, and her brother Jackson starred on the diamond at Morehead State before being drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"We were always a very competitive household and family game nights never ended well," she laughed. "Things always ended in a fight if someone lost. This type of upbringing has helped shape my love for competing all the way up to where I am now."
Her brother Jackson remains one of her biggest role models.
"He has always showed me how much work it takes to be successful," Feltner said. "Jackson never failed to go lift with me, rebound for me, or even go on a run with me. And baseball players are not cardiovascular athletes so you know that means a lot."
Their bond has helped her navigate the ups and downs of college athletics, and seeing how much he loved Morehead State gave her confidence that it was the right place for her too.
Feltner's love for the game extends beyond playing—she wants to coach one day.
"I want to become a college basketball coach once I am done playing," she said. "My mom has coached me my entire life until college and she inspired me to also pursue coaching. This is something that I have always dreamt of doing, I couldn't imagine myself without basketball in my life."
She's on track to graduate this December with a University Studies degree and plans to pursue a master's in sport management in the spring.
She also tries to be a role model for the next generation of players, just as others were for her.
"A player that I have always looked up to growing up is Taylor Porter," Feltner said. "She graduated from my high school and went on to play at Marshall University. She is the reason that I wear number 1, and I have always loved watching her play."
Porter even returned to help Feltner train when she was in high school.
"Getting to learn from someone that knew what it took to make it at this level was so amazing for me."
Her advice to young girls who dream of playing Division I basketball is simple but powerful.
"Never stop working hard," she said. "God can give you all the talent in the world, but if you don't work as hard as you can you could get passed up. Never stop believing that you can make it, even if everyone else doubts your dreams."
Off the court, Feltner keeps things light with music that matches her mood. She was asked to choose an artist for the team to listen to each day of the week.
"Monday - Lil Wayne, Tuesday - Ella Langley, Wednesday - NBA Youngboy, Thursday - Morgan Wallen, Friday - GloRilla," she said, laughing
It's a playlist as versatile as her game—and a reminder that while basketball is central to her life, she knows how to have fun too.
Feltner's journey to Morehead State is a story of faith, family, and finding the right fit. Surrounded by people who believe in her and a community she loves, she's ready to help lead the Eagles forward—one celebration, one stop, and one basket at a time.
