Kenner All Star Teams 1 & 2
Ron Bailey, Publisher
The 2009 Jabbo Kenner iteration was chock full of talent
August 19, 2009 – Sunday concluded the 2009 Jabbo Kenner League, to good acclaim. For game coverage, click here.
Don’t think this year’s Kenner was a great opportunity for all involved?
“I’m just happy they still have it” said National Basketball Association forward Pops Mensah Bonsu after his team, Premier Athletics, lost in quarterfinal action. “You have professional and college players. The best pros in D.C; KD (Kevin Durant), Jeff Green, Beasley (Michael), myself . What more can you ask for? I’ll be competing in it every year”. (Gilbert Arenas, of Washington Wizard and NBA fame, also played a game)
Durant noted Kenner is “good competition”, thoughts echoed by others, including international professional Brian Matthews. “It’s good, It’s a great league; good for summertime work. And it’s in DC, where there is always good competition” shared Matthews, a forward, who in college several years ago led the Big East in scoring.
Fans of course enjoyed the action, just ask Kent Boone, a well known local hoops aficionado based in Northern Virginia: “This year despite an abbreviated schedule - 55 games in 19 days or so - it was well put together and exciting. Every game was very competitive. It was a great outing and the fan base was tremendous for each team”.
Here are the i95Ballerz.com All-Kenner teams, created by consultation with a group of Kenner attendees/coaches.
First Team
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, F – Showed incredible shooting range, but still used his Kenner season to work on ball handling and leadership
Jeff Green, Oklahoma City Thunder, F – Played all over the court, and seemingly embraced ball handling as a point of development. Edged Durant for MVP due to the number of games he played in – Green was a constant.
Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Toronto Raptors, F – After a slow start, Bonsu started to finish everything around the rim. Hard. Also showed a growing mid-range to three point shooting game
Pops Mensah-Bonsu went and got the ball off the rim, constantly.
Brian Chase, Vive Menorca (Spain), PG – Chase can score and pass. Again proved he’s a prodigious talent at guard. Led Madness/A. Wash to the Kenner crown.
Jason Clark, Georgetown University, G – Clark played almost exclusively at point guard, showing the work that will garner him more clock in the Big East this year. Also attacked the rim with abandon, defended and passed.
Isaiah Swann, Israeli pro, G - Likely the most consistent Kenner scorer, Swann proved himself a true offensive talent; whether its driving, finishing, posting or pulling up, Isaiah can do it.
Adrian Bowie, University of Maryland, G – Has really worked on his right hand ball handling, and become much stronger – the result is a player that mans both guard positions, attacks the rim, finishes, and defends. This athletic performer was named Most Improved Player in Kenner.
Second Team
Mo Creek, Indiana University, G – Headed to Indiana, Creek shot, defended and passed with the best. What’s most impressive is his offensive performance came within the game’s flow.
Darnell Dodson, University of Kentucky, G/F – An all-court performer, Dodson played every position on the court, including defending Mensah-Bonsu in the paint. Has worked hard on ball patting and passing, to go along with a silky jumper.
Austin Freeman, Georgetown, G - Freeman displayed increased explosion and speed, likely due to weight reduction. The result is an ability to attack the cup and find teammates.
Bryant Matthews, international professional, F – Matthews gets the Hardest Worker award, which he lives up to in games and during workouts; being somewhat undersized for a post-oriented player, Matthews bangs and outworks opponents.
Bryant Matthews delivers a no-look pass.
Kevin Thompson, Morgan State, C – Was a first team talent, but is tabbed second team due to not playing in all of the Bearcats’ games. Thompson is a physical low-post threat, one that showed he could compete with any frontcourt player in Kenner action.
Chris Wright, Georgetown, G – Displayed his entire skill wheelhouse – that of aggressive offensive performer and point guard. Many Hoya fans were happy to see him play both roles. His team suffered in the playoffs without him.
Antonio Hayman, Marshall, F – A slasher/finisher, Hayman has worked on his mid-range game and ball patting. Was a constant Madness/A. Wash’s scorer and rebounder.
Jeff Allen, Virginia Tech, F –Rough and tumble, Allen always does something that has observers say ‘Wow’, whether that be a strong rebound, fastbreak pull up jumper, strong finish or snazzy pass.