Jeremy Kendle

Jeremy Paul Kendle (born March 15, 1988) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Bendigo Braves of the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). He played three seasons of college basketball for Bellarmine University, becoming the only player in school history to be named to the NABC All-America Team two years in a row. He was also a key member of the Bellarmine Knights' 2011 championship winning team, helping the school claim their first NCAA Division II National Championship.

High school career

Kendle attended Jeffersonville High School in Jeffersonville, Indiana where he played for coach Jimmy Just. As a senior in 2005–06, he averaged 15.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as he helped lead the Red Devils to a 23–2 record and the Hoosier Hills Conference Championship. He subsequently earned first team All-District, All-Region and All-Area selection.^[1]

College career

As a freshman in 2006–07, Kendle attended Olney Central Community College but managed just two games for the Blue Knights after sustaining a severe foot injury that required surgery. After returning home to Jeffersonville for the 2007–08 season, Kendle re-joined the Blue Knights for the 2008–09 season. However, he was again struck down by another foot injury and failed to appear in any games after requiring a second round of surgery.^[2][3]

In the fall of 2009, Kendle transferred to Bellarmine University of the NCAA Division II and began playing for the Knights during the 2009–10 season. Stringing together his first full college season, Kendle led the Knights in scoring with 17.7 points per game and subsequently earned second-team All-GLVC honors. During the 2010 GLVC Tournament, he helped his team win the event while earning Tournament MVP and All-Tournament Team honors.^[4]

In his second season playing for the Knights, Kendle garnered numerous awards. The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) named Kendle to their 2011 State Farm Division II All-America Team, and Daktronics (voted on by college sports information directors) named Kendle to their Third Team All-American squad.^[5] He also earned NABC Division II All-Midwest Region first team, All-GLVC first team and GLVC Player of the Year honors after averaging 17.3 points and 3.3 rebounds during the regular season. Kendle helped lead Bellarmine to a 30–2 record and a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite 8 for the first time in school history. He went on to lead them even further as the Knights won their first NCAA Division II National Championship in 2010–11. Kendle subsequently earned NCAA Division II All-Tournament Team honors.

In August 2011, the NCAA granted Kendle two more seasons of college eligibility after deeming his first two seasons at Olney Central did not count due to his injuries.^[6][7] As a junior in 2011–12, Kendle once again led the Knights back to the NCAA Division II Final Four and earned All-GLVC first team and NABC Division II All-America Team honors for a second straight year. In 33 games for the Knights in 2011–12, he averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game.^[8]

On August 28, 2012, it was announced that Kendle had signed with an agent to pursue professional basketball opportunities and would not return to Bellarmine for the 2012–13 season. Kendle left Bellarmine as the only player in school history to be named to the NABC All-America Team two years in a row, and was on track to become the all-time leading scorer. Kendle ended his career fourth on Bellarmine's all-time scoring list with 1,792 points.^[9]

Professional career

Morocco and Switzerland (2013–2014)

On January 1, 2013, Kendle signed with the Wydad Athletic Club of the Morocco Basketball League.^[10] He went on to help Wydad win the 2012–13 Morocco League championship.^[11]

In July 2013, Kendle signed with SAM Basket Massagno of Switzerland for the 2013–14 LNBA season.^[12] He managed just two games for Massagno before departing the club in late October.^[13] The following month, Kendle returned to Morocco and joined Amal Essaouira where he played out the 2013–14 season.^[14] He went on to help Essaouira reach the final of both the Throne Cup and the Morocco League, losing both times to AS Salé.^[15][16][17]

Australia (2015–present)

On March 27, 2015, Kendle signed with the Toowoomba Mountaineers for the 2015 Queensland Basketball League season.^[18] On July 6, he was named Player of the Week for Round 10 after scoring 31 points against Gold Coast on July 3, and 44 points against Logan on July 4.^[19] He led his team to the quarter-finals with a fifth-place finish and an 11–6 win/loss record.^[20] On August 18, he played for the QBL All-Stars in an exhibition match against the LSU Tigers men's basketball team, scoring a team-high 22 points in a 91–88 loss.^[21][22] Four days later, the Mountaineers were knocked out of the playoffs, losing their semi-final match-up to the Mackay Meteors. Kendle helped the Mountaineers go from last on the ladder in 2014, to a semi-final appearance in 2015.^[23] He subsequently earned league MVP honors and was named to the All-League Team alongside teammate Erron Maxey.^[24] In 18 games for the Mountaineers, he averaged 30.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game.^[25]

On December 22, 2015, Kendle signed with the Bendigo Braves for the 2016 SEABL season.^[26][27]

References

External links

• Bellarmine bio
• Aussie Hoopla report
• The Chronicle report