After spearheading Runnin' Rebels' enthralling 72-71 victory over Urban Knights in the FLOW/National Basketball League (NBL) Southern Conference final with a game-high 22 points, 25-year-old Kemar McLeish is left disappointed after losing their semi-final games 2-0 to defending champions Tivoli Gardens Wizards.
McLeish finished the season with impressive statistics of 179 points, 67 rebounds, four blocked shots, 19 steals and 24 assists and is a leading contender for MVP of the Southern Conference, a feat he has accomplished over the past four consecutive seasons.
He pointed out that while the possibility of being named MVP for the fifth time is a grand accomplishment, his ultimate goal was winning the national title. "Basketball is a team sport; individual awards and accolades are all right, but our aim was to win the national title and celebrate as a team," said the Runnin' Rebels forward.
McLeish, who represented last year's beaten finalists Majesty Gardens Legends, was bent on playing a leading role for his new team to pull off a win over the west Kingston squad in the semis. "I was with Majesty Legends last year and went to the finals where we were beaten by Tivoli, so this year I wanted to turn the tables," McLeish argued.
The outstanding player is grateful that he has remained injury-free throughout the season, unlike previous seasons when he was dogged by knee, ankle and other injuries. "I have suffered no injuries this year. I played without even a bruise - nothing at all," McLeish said.
The former Calabar High School student recalls the difficulties he encountered initially at getting a chance to parade his talents when he visited the courts at his alma mater or in his Duhaney Park community.
The determined McLeish, however, refused to be sidelined by the "bigger boys" and got a jump-start to his career while he was a third-former at Calabar. He went on to represent his school in the ISSA Under-16 and Under-19 competitions from 2001-2004, during which time the teams became champions.
McLeish noted that growing up, his idols in the game were NBA players Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant. He notes, however, that he is not seeking to be drafted into the NBA just now. Instead, he says, his immediate ambition is to pursue studies in January to acquire a degree in accounting.
He has singled out his former coach, Marland Nattie, general secretary, JABA, and Richard Rowe as his mentors.
"I look toward them. They talk to me when they think I am out of line. It is not just basketball when it comes to these people, it's life in general," said McLeish, who has represented the Under-19 and senior national teams.
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