Forbes siblings working their way through 2020

From the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd to the cancellation of all kinds of sporting events and even partial seasons, it's been a disappointing and trying calendar year for everyone. For McKenzie and Mason Forbes, 2018 graduates of Folsom High who are playing collegiate basketball; they want nothing more than to get back to college and to play ball. Mason, 21, will be in his junior season at Harvard, while McKenzie, 20, will be in her first at Harvard, and her second season overall after spending her freshman year at Cal in 2018-19. McKenzie found out in May that she gained admission into Harvard, a long and difficult process that made her decision to leave Cal worthwhile. "Lindsay (Gottlieb), the head coach, got a job with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and before that, the associate head coach got a job in the WNBA, and they were a big part in my decision to go to Cal," said McKenzie, explaining her decision to leave Cal. "I enjoyed my year at Cal, and loved my teammates, but I needed to look around." McKenzie wanted a top-notch education, and Harvard certainly checked that box. The fact that her brother attended the school was an obvious draw as well. "Obviously, Harvard is a good school, and Mason being there for sure was a big reason of me wanting to go there," McKenzie said. "I had to sit out a year because I missed the deadline to apply, but I went to Folsom Lake College and took a full course load. I found out in May in got into Harvard." With her future set, now McKenzie is waiting for life to get back to normal. While she will begin her classes at Harvard online in September, COVID-19 has put the upcoming basketball season in jeopardy. Even so, she and Mason have been working out four days at week at Vince Mini's House of Pain in El Dorado Hills. "It's been nice to have a schedule and a routine," Mason said of the workouts with his sister and other Folsom High graduates, including Jordan Ford and Tiler Fears. "We're up early in the morning, and it's kept me engaged mentally, and locked in." The siblings have been able to get some basketball workouts in as well at the gymnasium at Marble Valley Academy in El Dorado Hills, where their dad, Sterling, is the athletic director. For Mason, he's coming off a sophomore season at Harvard where he averaged 3 points, 2 rebounds and made 60 percent of his shots from the floor in 28 games where he averaged 10 minutes per game. He was a back-up center and enjoyed his role on the team. "My season went really well," Mason said. "It was a big year in my social growth, as well as basketball. I felt comfortable with my teammates and with my role on the team. I was comfortable on the court. My role was to come off the bench as an energy guy, a defender, add length and get a few buckets. I felt like a valuable member of the team." Harvard was having a good season before it was cut short because of COVID-19, just a couple days before the Ivy League Tournament. Harvard was 21-8 and had a good chance of winning the conference tournament and making it to the NCAA Tournament. "We finished second in the conference behind Yale, and we had just beaten them by 14 points in our last game before the season was cancelled," Mason said. "It was disappointing, but when the rest of the season was cancelled, we realized how serious everything was." The death of George Floyd, a black man killed during an arrest by white police officers in May in Minnesota, is another serious matter to McKenzie and Mason. They hope his death can force change in America. "Athletes have a platform in which they can reach a lot of people who wouldn't otherwise pay attention to things," McKenzie said. "Athletes can catch eyes of a lot of people. It's important to speak out and be vocal. I try to use my platform to express my views. It's also really important for coaches of high schools and colleges to not dodge these conversations. They're working with kids who are turning into adults, and if they don't care what's happening off the court too, it can be problematic." Added Mason, "Racial injustice is definitely a tragedy. It's important to understand that this is a highly-publicized case, but it's been happening for a long time. It's nothing new. This country has to reckon with their troubled moral past; it can't ignore it. People should educate themselves and get involved anyway they can. Now is the time. To be passive is to be complacent." COVID-19 has cast doubt on the immediate future and the future of the collegiate basketball season, but the McKenzie and Mason are trying to keep their lives as normal as possible. "COVID has definitely put me on a different trajectory of where I want to be, especially after me sitting out an entire year," McKenzie said. "I've tried to stay focused on my short-term goals and working week-to-week. I'm at the weight I want to be at, but now I want to add muscle and tone. It's a meticulous process. I've been lifting weights and getting stronger, and doing high-endurance workouts." Mason added, "COVID hasn't affected me too much. I'm still lifting and getting my shots in and that's keeping me sane. Fortunately, my family is locked down together and we're tight-knit. I've been enjoying my mom's cooking, and have been reading a lot." The siblings plan to keep working out and preparing themselves for what they hope will be their best basketball seasons to date. "Harvard has shut down fall sports, so hopefully things will lessen and they will open back up," Mason said. "My fingers are crossed that we have a season." Added McKenzie, "I don't think there will be a season. I hear they're making headway with a vaccine, maybe January. Who knows? If they play it safe, it's better to wait. It sucks. I'm not happy at this point. The NBA is in a bubble right now; I don't see how college and high school teams can continue as normal. I want to play very badly, but the time will come eventually. Until then, I plan on working out and get some summer fun if I can." One thing that is for certain: Mason is glad to have is sister at Harvard with him. "I'm beyond excited Kenzie is at Harvard," Mason said. "It speaks to her determination. She's worked hard, and she's inspiring to me. It's a very scary moment; how difficult it would be to not know you're future. It's very rare that Harvard takes athletic transfers. We might not be on campus together this fall, but at least we'll be studying together at home."