After last year’s regular season, all the stars aligned with the Alcorn State University men’s basketball team. Heading into the SWAC basketball tournament, the Braves were co-champions of the regular season and given the number one seed heading into the playoffs. The expectations for a SWAC title came to an unexpected screeching halt during their Quarterfinal loss at the hands of Texas Southern University. Fast forward to today, and the Braves are back and better with something to prove. The Braves are expected to finish the season in third place, yet the team’s preseason first-team selection has other plans in mind. The Braves are ready to pick up where they left off with their ferocious leader at the helm, forward Jeremiah Kendall, hoping to claim the SWAC title.

Kendall is a product of the Boogie Down Bronx and has always had his sights set on playing basketball. He used the game as an outlet to keep him focused and dedicated to playing ball at the collegiate level. His path to Alcorn State was not the most linear one. The journeyman began his career at Tallahassee Community College before making the pit stop at Prairie View A&M University, a (now) conference foe that he always looks forward to lacing up against. “That’s my old school,“ Kendall says, “so I always want to go out there and give them work.”

So far, Jeremiah has been putting in the work for his fellow teammates, of whom he speaks highly. “We’re a group of hard workers, motivators, and driven young men.”

Keeping them around is what gives Kendall the green light to lead the way, as he is averaging a team-high 15 points along with seven rebounds per game. His performance so far can be attributed to his offseason commitment to perfecting his craft to create a different ending to this season. While reflecting on last year’s unfortunate end, Jeremiah made no excuses. Kendall says, “We honestly just let the game slip away. I came back with the mindset that we have to go out there and get over the hump by any means.”

Although his outcome from a year ago was unexpected, his stellar play from the 2022-2023 season was enough to gain notoriety from the SWAC as a preseason first-team conference selection. When asked what this recognition meant to him, he was humble and hungry to prove them right. “It meant a lot to me. Just being mentioned with the other guys is an honor. Now it’s about living up to the expectations and officially making the first team and the end of the year.”

There is no lack of drive in Kendall’s DNA, which might make you wonder the culprit for his relentless dedication. Look no further than his younger brother.

“My why and motivation is my little brother. He’s a college freshman, and he watches my footsteps closely. I want to make sure I’m going hard for him.”

In his final season at Alcorn, Jeremiah looks forward to laying it all on the line for the title.