Kennedy hoopin' in the States

The Kennedy Prep basketball team finished 4th at the 66th annual University of Windsor Christmas Tournament losing 81-79 to London Basketball Academy in double overtime Sunday. "The best part of those games this weekend is the kids got to learn a lot," said head coach Pat Osborne whose team is playing NCAA rules on the daily as opposed to FIBA fules. "Getting back into the FIBA rules is tough but it was good for us."

Tournament all-star Drelyn Downey-Davis of Kennedy Prep

Osborne's team is playing a heavy schedule in the U.S. this season after leaving the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association where he was coach of the year last season. He and his staff decided it was best to chart a new course and explore more opportunities for their players.

"That's helping in the recruiting process for our kids to go to the U.S. or be seen in the U.S." Osborne told Powerplay Sports. "It's a good model. We get lots of looks. It's good for us."

If they aren't travelling on the weekend, players will get 15 hours of practice/training time. If they travel, they'll leave Thursday and come back Sunday. They don't play tournaments but teams will travel to post secondary school and play in front of American coaches.

"For the last three years, every kid has graduated on time and every kid has gone to post secondary. Of all the kids that have graduated, one didn't get a (financial) basketball scholarship. It's been successful and served its purpose."

Although Kennedy Prep is not playing in a league with standings and a championship Osborne says there has been no drop in the intensity of their games. "These kids are playing to show what they can do," Osborne said. "Every time we play an American school there's always college coaches there in the stands so these kids are always playing hard because someone's always watching."

The team practices out of St. Clair College. "They've been very good to us."