Some players need to work hard to become a leader.
Kevair Kennedy just does it.
Kennedy is a senior at Father Judge High School, and as the starting point guard on the basketball team, he’s expected to be the guy all the other players can look to for guidance and leadership.
Some have to learn on the job, but Kennedy has been doing it for as long as he can remember.
“My family is really my reason why (I work hard),” said Kennedy, who lives in Frankford. “Especially my brothers. I have two younger brothers, Noah and Khyir. Noah is 2 and Khyir is 11. They look up to me a lot, for sure.
“I try to be a good leader for them. I want to see them be at the top of the food chain. I want them to do good things, and they are. I’m working to be a guide for them, somebody they can look up to.”
He’s setting a fine example for his younger brothers.
He’s doing the same for his teammates on the Crusaders.
Kennedy has been the starting point guard for the bulk of his career. He took over the position midway through his freshman year, and has been the Crusaders quarterback on the floor since earning that promotion.
Last year was his best.
He averaged a team-high 17.3 points per game. He also chipped in 6.5 rebounds, six assists and two steals per game.
And as he improved, so did the Crusaders.
Judge finished 16-8 overall, 9-4 in Catholic League play. The Crusaders also won a playoff game, knocking off an Archbishop Wood team that rebounded to make the Class 6A state semifinals.
And for the first time since 1996, the Crusaders advanced to the Palestra for the Catholic League semifinals.
It was a great year for Judge, and the good news is while it did lose two key seniors, the rest of the team returns in November for another run at it.
If expectations were high last year, they’re even higher this year.
“It was a crazy feeling, we just had a great year,” Kennedy said. “We went from the bottom my freshman year to Palestra my junior year, it’s crazy. I think it was teamwork, for real, for real. Playing like a team, we did that the whole season, we had really good chemistry, we were comfortable and all that.”
It was a team effort, and Kennedy was honored to be the point guard, a position he’s still fairly new to.
Growing up, Kennedy mostly played off the ball until he was in seventh grade when he made the switch to point guard.
Now he’s one of the best in the area at running an offense, but just as he’s quick to hand out assists on the floor, he’s fast to dish praise to his teammates.
Just another reason he’s a great floor general and team leader.
“At first it was a struggle, breaking presses, learning everything you need to know, breaking full-court presses, it’s a lot to learn,” Kennedy said. “It was a struggle. Then I got to eighth grade and I got the hang of it. I was playing for Esperanza and they used me at point guard.
“I would say I’m a pass-first point guard, that’s how I see myself. My teammates make my job easy, they hit crazy shots. That’s why we’re so successful. I have shooters all around me, and I can drive. People have to stop something, but they can’t stop everything. I usually play point guard, but I can also play off guard. I think I’ll do more of that this year. We have such a good team, guys can do different things. I’m really lucky to have so many great players around me, that definitely helps me. A lot.”
Kennedy also appreciates everything his family does.
While he is doing his best to teach his teammates, and of course his younger brothers whom he mentors, he’s also still learning.
And he’s happy to have some great leaders in his life, too.
“My mom, really my parents, they are always there for me,” Kennedy said. “It’s my coaches, family, parents and teammates. I’m very lucky, I have a lot of people (who support) me. Makes it a lot easier.”
That also means he has a lot of reasons to enjoy a successful senior year.
His AAU season recently finished, and is now eyeing his final year in baby blue and red. One of his goals is to find the perfect college to continue his career.
The other is to bring home a title to Judge.
“Last year was crazy, we got to the Palestra, and now we have that experience,” Kennedy said. “To go from where we were to where we are now, we have made a lot of progress.
“My senior year, I want to win states, PCL and city title. We can do it, we just have to keep working. We have what we need.”
