IF there’s someone who knows how Meralco’s EASL import DJ Kennedy plays, it’s Justin Brownlee. Brownlee and Kennedy were teammates way back in their college days with St. John’s University in the NCAA.
When told by SPIN.ph that Kennedy is coming over, Brownlee is looking forward to see him.
“Last time I’ve seen DJ, I was playing in France and he was playing in Russia and we played against each other,” said Brownlee, referring to his pre-PBA days when he played for Elan Chalon and Kennedy for Enisey sometime around 2015 and 2016.
“I don’t know he is coming over. It would be great to see him,” said Brownlee.
During their final year with St. John’s in 2011, Brownlee was the second leading scorer of the Red Storm under coach Steve Lavin with an average of 12.3 points, with Kennedy following him at 10.4. Kennedy, meanwhile, grabbed the most rebounds with 5.6 rebounds, with Brownlee coming in at second with 5.2.
The Red Storm reached the Big East tournament during the 2010-11 season, but during their second round campaign, Kennedy suffered an ACL injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season. St. John’s lost in the quarterfinals against Syracuse.
St. John’s was able to secure a berth in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament (March Madness) but lost in the first round to Gonzaga.
The 6-foot-6 Kennedy is set to join forces with Allen Durham with Meralco, a team that is a perennial foe of Brownlee and Barangay Ginebra in the PBA finals, in the EASL.
Prior to his upcoming stint with Meralco, the 34-year-old Kennedy in The Basketball Tournament, a knockout, winner-take-all tournament in the United States, winning five out of six times aside from his overseas stints in Australia, Israel, and Ukraine, among others.
“He is having a great career whether it’s overseas or the TBT tournament, I think he won for five years. He’s had a great professional career. It would be great to see him. Haven’t seen him in a while,” said Brownlee.
The Barangay Ginebra import and Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player said Kennedy is going to be an asset for Meralco with his all-around play.
“He is tough. He is playing hard ever since. I’ve known him since college. He is a guy that will always give a 110 percent. He can do multiple things. He has very limited weaknesses. He can shoot. He can score. He can play-make, he can rebound, he can defend. He is a really good all-around player. And I’m looking forward to see what he can do in the Philippines,” Brownlee said.
Brownlee acknowledges that the EASL will be a tough league, but Kennedy is used to such level of basketball.
“It’s going to be tough. That league is very tough. DJ, he has played all around the world playing against high-level of basketball in Europe as well as in Asia, NBA, D League, he’s got a lot of experience. He is used to high-level competition,” Brownlee said.
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