Kappa Journal Spring Issue (Spring 2017)

COVER STORY

K ennedy R. Meeks (Theta Omicron 2016) has had about as impressive a basketball career as can be achieved by someone his age. The 22-year-old Meeks was named to the 2013 McDon- ald’s All-American Team out of West Charlotte High School, where he aver- aged 19 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks per game. As a freshman at the University of North Carolina, he averaged eight points and six rebounds in only 16 minutes per game en route to being named to the ACC All-Freshman team. As a sophomore, he was second on the team in scoring and led the Tar Heels in rebounding with 7.4 rebounds per game. He was named Honorable Mention All-ACC at the conclusion of that sophomore campaign. As a junior, Meeks achieved his then career high 25 points against Temple University. He returned from a mid-season knee injury to lead the Tar Heels to the Final Four, and an eventual finals game loss by way of a dramatic 28-foot buzzer beater at the hands of Villanova University. Then came that magical senior year. The one that finally ended in a National Championship Tro- phy. Meeks was crucially important in that successful tour- nament run. He turned in a Herculean 17 rebound effort in the South Regional Final versus a Kentucky squad stocked with three projected first round picks. In the following game, the National Semifinal, he erupted for 25 huge points and 14 rebounds to lead his team to a second consecutive finals game berth. This time Meeks and The University of North Carolina Tar Heels prevailed against a game Gonzaga squad

THE JOURNAL  SPRING 2017  | 65

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker