Breathing heavy, Kendyl Watson grabs a drink and takes a seat on the Paradise Valley bench during a recent big win over Cathedral High (CA). While his rest his short, his focus is encouraging his teammates. The senior forward learned all about being a good teammate from older brother Paul, one of the best players to ever wear a Trojan jersey.
“He was a passionate player and didn’t like to lose,” Kendyl said to Sports360AZ.com of his sibling Paul who went on to star at Fresno State. “He was a team player and that’s what I try to take from his game and put into mine.”
The tall, athletic brothers have similar games. Both can take their defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim. This off-season Kendyl has worked on the little things in hoping to help lead PV to a state championship, like Paul did as a senior in 2013.
Post touch leads to a foul. #PV – 34 #DV– 34#ACUSweet16 pic.twitter.com/pLSZaQfKnb
— ACU Men’s Basketball (@ACUMBB) June 8, 2019
“I’ve tried to get tighter with my ballhandling,” he explained. “Become a more vocal leader on and off the court. Trying to build my team up so we can get as many wins as possible.
Watson came into his own during his second season on varsity. As a junior, the 6-foot-7 wing averaged just under 10 points and five rebounds per contest for the 18-11 Trojans who return a large bulk of their offensive production this year.
Rest assured, big brother has been watching every move.
“I feel like I’m more of the tough love guy,” Paul Watson, who last season played for the New York Knicks GLeague team, said with a smile to Sports360AZ.com. “It’s all in love. The criticism…I’m always trying to help him. I’m never going to put him in a bad spot or teach him something that’s wrong. I tell him these things because I’ve been there. I’ve been in his situation.”While far from a finished product, Kendyl’s upside has caught the attention of a number of colleges. He already has an offer from Fresno State, as well as interest from Nevada, Utah State, Pepperdine, GCU, UAB and others.
“The potential is really there,” Paradise Valley head coach Corey Bardet said to Sports360AZ.com. “I think a lot of coaches see, a couple of years down the road, his bloodlines. I think they see a big time opportunity.”
Make no mistake, Kendyl Watson’s best basketball is still ahead of him.
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Eric Sorenson
A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.