Monday, May 2, 2011

From the FreeP: Kennedy to bolster frontcourt next season and coming years

By Craig Meyer/DFP Staff

In his first two seasons as the head coach of the Boston University men’s basketball program, Pat Chambers has worked at creating a distinct brand of play that he hopes will epitomize BU basketball in the same way that other styles of play have defined other programs in the past.

Nolan Richardson had his pressing “40 Minutes of Hell” at University of Arkansas. John Calipari has implemented his patented dribble-drive offense with great success at both University of Memphis and now at University of Kentucky. And for decades, Pete Carril brought about a new calculated approach to the game with his Princeton offense at – you guessed it – Princeton University.

For Chambers and his BU program, his vision for the future of Terrier basketball will be decided by a style of play that focuses on two core attributes of the game – defense and rebounding.

For a crucial recruiting class that will look to help fill the pronounced void left by the graduation of America East Player of the Year John Holland, Chambers has landed a player who embodies those fundamental ideals of BU basketball – James Kennedy.

Kennedy is a 6’7”, 220-pound power forward who spent a post-graduate season at nearby Cushing Academy in Ashburnham and possesses a traditional low post-game that should allow him to stand out in a conference like the AE where such players are in short supply.

“Kennedy is very much an ‘old school’ type power forward and that definitely differentiates him from most 4-men in the America East,” said Adam Finkelstein of the New England Recruiting Report. “Most low- to mid-major programs aren’t able to play with two traditional big men anymore because there simply aren’t enough of them available in recruiting.

“Kennedy will give BU the flexibility to go with a two post line-up and so better match-up with programs from higher level conferences.”

This past season, Kennedy helped lead his Penguins squad to a 21-7 record and a No. 13 ranking among Massachusetts high school basketball teams. Additionally, he played AAU ball for the Boston Amateur Basketball Club.

Read more at www.dailyfreepress.com

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