Sha'markus Kennedy

Sha'markus Kennedy (born June 27, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Pallacanestro Cantù of the Lega Basket Serie A.

Sha'markus Kennedy
Kennedy with McNeese State in February 2020
No. 3 – Pallacanestro Cantù
PositionPower forward
LeagueLega Basket Serie A
Personal information
Born (1998-06-27) June 27, 1998
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
NationalityAmerican
Listed height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Listed weight100 kg (220 lb)
Career information
High schoolNorthridge
(Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
College
NBA draft2020 / Undrafted
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–presentCantù
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Southland (2020)
  • Southland Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
  • Southland All-Defensive Team (2020)
  • First-team All-Panhandle (2018)

High school career

Kennedy played basketball for Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. As a senior, he averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game.[1] He led his team to a 23–10 record and was selected to the Alabama All-Stars team.[2] In high school, Kennedy also took part in track and field.[1]

College career

In his first two years of college basketball, Kennedy played for Chipola College. In his sophomore season, he led his team in scoring (15.1 points per game), rebounds (7.1 per game) and blocks (50) during the regular season. He was named to the Panhandle All-Conference First Team and led Chipola to the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Men's Basketball Tournament.[3] For his final two years, Kennedy moved to McNeese State.[4] On December 30, 2018, he scored a junior season-high 30 points in a win over Campbellsville-Harrodsburg. As a junior, Kennedy averaged 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and recorded 59 blocks. He led the Southland Conference in field goal percentage at 64.1 percent.[1]

On December 10, 2019, in his senior season, Kennedy posted a triple-double of 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks in a victory over Kansas City.[5] He scored a career-high 37 points along with 14 rebounds in a January 25, 2020 win over Houston Baptist, breaking the H&HP Complex scoring record.[6] On February 8, Kennedy scored 22 points and grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds in an overtime loss to Central Arkansas.[7] As a senior, he averaged 18.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, shooting 67.9 percent from the field, which led the Southland and ranked second in the NCAA Division I.[8][9] Kennedy registered 17 double-doubles in the season, the third-most in conference history.[8] He was a four-time Southland Player of the Week selection and earned Southland Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Southland honors.[10] He was named to McNeese State's All-Decade Team by the American Press.[9]

Professional career

On July 4, 2020, Kennedy signed his first professional contract with Pallacanestro Cantù of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A.[11][12]

References
  1. "Sha'markus Kennedy". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  2. Chandler, Joey (March 22, 2016). "North River Christian Academy to join AISA". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  3. "Indians headed to state tournament". Dothan Eagle. March 2, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. "Chipola Players Sign With Major Universities". Chipola College. April 17, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  5. Berry, David (December 11, 2019). "Kennedy registers triple-double". American Press. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  6. Bonnette, Matthew (January 25, 2020). "Kennedy's 37 points paces Cowboys to 102-89 win over HBU". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  7. Bonnette, Matthew (February 8, 2020). "Kennedy's 22-21 game not enough as Cowboys fall 82-76 in OT". McNeese State University Athletics. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  8. "McNeese forward Sha'markus Kennedy named 1st Team All-Louisiana". KPLC. April 14, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  9. Berry, David (April 8, 2020). "Cowboys' good times were early part of decade". American Press. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  10. "McNeese's Sha'Markus Kennedy named Southland Defensive Player of the Year". KPLC. March 9, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  11. Terrasi Borghesan, Ennio (July 4, 2020). "Sha'Markus Kennedy è il nuovo centro americano di Cantù" (in Italian). Sportando. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  12. Berry, David (July 10, 2020). "Kennedy signs to play ball in Italy". American Press. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
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