If the shoe fits - Kenny George Jr. still open

Kenny George Jr. (rear) pictured with teammates of Team High School Elite
in the Fall of 2003. George stood 7'1" at this time; he is now 7'6".

If the shoe fits

--5-19-04--
By Frank Rusnak
Kenneth George Sr. remembers when his son, Kenny Jr., was a 6’10” eighth grader. Now, four years later and eight inches taller, Kenny Jr. stands 7’6” and 315 pounds.

"It's just frustrating that I'm going to probably still grow."

Kenny George Jr.
Latin Center

“I always knew he’d be tall,” Kenneth Sr. said. “I just didn’t know he’d be this tall.”

Kenny Jr. doesn’t mind his size one bit. As a matter of fact, he wouldn’t change it for anything.

“I like being this height,” said the 18 year old. “Things come a lot easier to me. Who wouldn’t want to be this height? It’s just frustrating that I’m going to probably still grow.”

Yep, still grow.

When he had a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done for an injury this season, the doctor found his platelets were still open.

With both parents 6’3”, Kenny Jr. just hopes his feet don’t grow anymore. He is believed to have the largest feet of any basketball player in the world at a size 25.

Something as little as buying shoes turn into an episode when no basketball shoes are made his size. Dress and casual shoes are not a problem to find, it’s just the athletic shoes that give him difficulty, Kenneth Sr. said.

Nike, Rebook and Adidas all said they wouldn’t make a shoe his size, Kenneth Sr. said.

They spent about $1,000 for a pair of NBA star Shaquille O'Neal’s size 23 shoes to be modified. Those shoes are what Kenny Jr. plays in today.

Kenneth Sr. said to have a shoe made brand new for his size it would coast anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.

Latin coach Dave VanderMeulen said he thinks after Kenny Jr. goes to college he won’t have a problem getting shoes as college programs are under contract with shoe companies. And the university will pocket the bill, he said.

Now the problem lies in finding a college that will fit him.

He verbally committed to Valparaiso in the summer of 2003. However, Kenny Jr. backed out of his commitment after head coach Scott Drew left for Baylor.

Now, he finds himself in a position where he doesn’t know what he’ll do next season. It is expected that he would spend his first season at a university using a redshirt year and prep school is not being ruled out, Kenneth Sr. said. An ideal situation for Kenneth Sr. would be near Louisiana as he plans to relocate there to be closer to family.

Getting acclimated to college life in the classroom is something Kenny Jr. doesn’t feel will be a problem. At Latin, an independent school in Downtown Chicago known for its stringent academic standards, Kenny Jr. is called more of a “tech guy” by his father. In his spare time he enjoys building computers and taking them apart. His interest in creating movies is increasing as he is currently in works on a screenplay. He is likely to choose a university with cinematography as a major.

This year, in an injury-riddled season at Latin, Kenny Jr. helped the Romans to the sectionals where they fell to Driscoll. He averaged about eight points, 10 rebounds and nine blocks on the season.

“I’ll have those moments where I’m coaching him and I can’t believe I’m coaching a kid this size,” VanderMeulen said during the season. “We spend a lot of energy with him individually.”

Kenneth Sr. said the biggest help to his son has been that of Chicago native Sonny Parker who spent six seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors as a first-round draft pick out of Texas A&M.

Parker began working with Kenny Jr. even before he entered high school.

“He has more of a love of a game now,” Parker said. “Before he was just a big kid and didn't play a lot of basketball. So the interest is starting to be there now.

“The biggest problem with Kenny is getting up and down the court. His skill level has gotten a lot better. Once he stops growing his development will come and he'll be a much better basketball player in college.”