Sha'markus Kennedy (born June 27, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for Bora in the Kosovo Superleague.

Sha'markus Kennedy
Kennedy with McNeese State in February 2020
No. 23 – Bora
PositionPower forward
LeagueKosovo Superleague
Personal information
Born (1998-06-27) June 27, 1998 (age 26)
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
2020–2021Cantù
2021Rasta Vechta
2021–2022Bnei Herzliya
2022–2023SCM U Craiova
2023–2024Trotamundos de Carabobo
2024–presentBora
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

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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

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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

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On July 4, 2020, Kennedy signed his first professional contract with Pallacanestro Cantù of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A.[11][12] However, he left Cantù before the end of the season, on April 1, 2021.[13]

On April 7, 2021, he has signed with Rasta Vechta of the German Basketball Bundesliga.[14]

On July 19, 2021, he has signed with Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[15] Kennedy averaged 5.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 10 games.

On February 24, 2022, he has signed with SCM U Craiova in the Liga Națională.[16]

On July 12, 2024, he signed for Bora of the Kosovo Superleague.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "McNeese forward Sha'markus Kennedy named 1st Team All-Louisiana". KPLC. April 14, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  9. ^ a b 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". Sportando (in Italian). Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  12. ^ Berry, David (July 10, 2020). "Kennedy signs to play ball in Italy". American Press. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  13. ^ "COMUNICATO STAMPA: SHA'MARKUS KENNEDY" (in Italian). pallacanestrocantu.com. 1 April 2021.
  14. ^ Lupo, Nicola (April 7, 2021). "Sha'markus Kennedy signs with Rasta Vechta". Sportando. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  15. ^ "Bnei Herzliya: Sha'amarkus Kennedy signed". middleeast.in-24.com. July 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  16. ^ "Craiova tabs Sha'Markus Kennedy, ex Bnei Hertzeliya". Eurobasket. February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "Ekskluzive: Amerikani me përvojë nga ligat e ndryshme evropiane përforcon Borën". Asisti Online (in Albanian). 12 July 2024.
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