The rich keep on getting richer. Boeheim’s Army, Syracuse’s alumni team in The Basketball Tournament, signed DJ Kennedy over the weekend. Sure, he’s not an SU alum, but Kennedy is the best player to ever play in TBT. Some refer to him as the GOAT.
Kennedy played for Overseas Elite prior to this season, where he won four TBT Championships. The guard/forward combo was named MVP of the tournament twice and made the All-Tourney Team five times. Kennedy also has scored the most points in TBT history with 436 and most rebounds with 232. Oh, and not to mention, he has lost only one game in the tournament, going 26-1 throughout his career.
Outside of TBT, Kennedy has played all over the world, including stops in the G-League, France, Israel, Russia, Germany, China, Turkey, Australia and Italy. Throughout his overseas career, the Pittsburgh-native has earned a plethora of individual and team awards. Simply put, wherever DJ Kennedy goes success follows.
Kennedy played collegiately at St. John’s where he was a four-year starter. His best season came in 2009-2010 when he was a junior. That is when he averaged 15 points, six rebounds and three assists per game.
So, other than all of the accolades and stats in the TBT, what does Kennedy bring to Boeheim’s Army? First and foremost Рexperience. He’s a veteran in this tournament and knows how to handle certain situations. In past years, Boeheim’s Army has looked flustered and can’t handle the big moments. Now with Kennedy, they hopefully will have some stability in those instances.
Kennedy also brings an aggressive playing style with him. Last year, Boeheim’s Army got bullied by bigger teams. Kennedy is 6-foot-6, 215 pounds and plays like a bruiser. He’s a great rebounder and can finish on the inside.
“You need guys like that in this tournament who are willing to do anything that it takes to win,” said Boeheim’s Army associate head coach Ryan Blackwell. “Blue collar. Unselfish. Just get it done. That’s what we’ve been looking for every year that I’ve been involved, to be honest.”
From an X’s and O’s standpoint, that is what this team needed. They were a little too cute and relied too much on outside play. Kennedy adds some much needed muscle.
Although some may be upset that Boeheim’s Army is venturing out of the Orange family this year, it is needed. They have continually come up short with just SU alums. Now, adding veteran winners from Overseas Elite in Kennedy and his former teammate Deandre Kane, Boeheim‚Äôs Army is heading into the tournament as one of the favorites.
Buckle up. This TBT is going to be an exciting one for Boeheim’s Army and it all begins on July 24.
