Prospect Spotlight: Kourtney Kendrick (2021)
Boonville standout Kourtney Kendrick is off to a fast start to her junior year after a standout showing last offseason with the Missouri Phenom. A 5’9 2021 guard, Kendrick likes a fast paced game and brings an aggressive mindset to…
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Continue ReadingBoonville standout Kourtney Kendrick is off to a fast start to her junior year after a standout showing last offseason with the Missouri Phenom.
A 5’9 2021 guard, Kendrick likes a fast paced game and brings an aggressive mindset to the floor. She is able to grab a defensive board and push the ball and has good instincts as a passer and play maker. Kendrick is also a capable post player who enjoys getting big in the paint and scoring aroung the basket.
She spent the offseason running with the Missouri Phenom and says coaches Taylor Possail, Greg Logsdon and Dennis Baggot had a big impact on her game.
“They helped so much this summer, with my game and just getting my name out there,” she says. “Playing this summer helped me with so many things this upcoming season. I gained more confidence in my game, and really learned how to use my size to my advantage. I wouldn’t call me a super big girl or a small girl, so I can really use the inside out game to my advantage.”
A year ago was Kendrick’s first at Boonville and says the program accepted her right away as she averaged 9.4 points and seven rebounds per game.
“Everyone on the team, the coaches and the school welcomed me with open arms,” she said. “We all got along so well and still do. We had a great winning record but we should have gone way farther than we did.
“I feel like I could have done more last year, I didn’t shoot very much last. It was my first year and I just didn’t play my full 100 percent every game. I learned from that though and this year I give it everything every game.”
Boonville is off to a 7-1 start this season and figures to be a force in Class 4 down the stretch.
“My expectations for this season are high,” Kendrick says. “Five of us girls that are in the six man rotation have been playing together since were little in about third or fourth grade. We played on a traveling team called Lady Thunder.
“Since we’ve played together for so long, we all play so well together. It is and unselfish ball game with us, we are always looking to make the extra pass and at the end of the day just come out with a win. There is no matchups I am really worried about or focused on except for Skyline and then just districts. Skyline has always been a good team but last year we beat them and I will never forget that game.
“Last year in districts we lost to a team that we had beaten by twenty twice, we were just out of it. So I’m really just focused on getting better this season and prepared to move on and go far in the post season because our team can do it with the talent we have.”
Kendrick says her dad and coach Adam Cantrell have had the biggest influence on her basketball career to date.
“He’s driven all around the country going to tryouts, practice, games and who knows what else,” she says. “He always pushes me, when I have no drive and am just being lazy he pushes me and reminds of what my goals are. He always tells me of how great I can be, and I just use his words as more fuel to get to where I want to go in life.
“Adam was my basketball coach from second grade all the way up to eighth in traveling ball. I look at him as a second dad. He’s my best friend from my old schools dad. They also lived right next to me. Adam tells me how it is with no sugar coating. I always secreted liked it when he would get in my face and yell at me because deep down I knew it was making me better. He’s worked with me so much over the years and for no reason at all.
“Just because he wanted to see me get better. I don’t see him much anymore but I really miss him yelling at me on the sidelines that’s for sure.”
Kendrick says she enjoys watching old film on players such as Larry Bird and she looks up to former Strafford standout and current Mizzou freshman Hayley Frank.
“As odd as that sounds, I’ve always been amazed by the way (Bird) played,” Kendrick said. “He was tough and when he got on the court it was strictly business, no emotions and those are the kind of players I love to watch.
“Another player I just started watching but I am starstruck by is Hayley Frank for Mizzou Women. She can do it all, post up, shoot the lights out, great defense, and again she always has the same look on her face. Strictly business. Larry bird’s fade aways and pull up jumpers will always be legendary to me. I love shooting pull up jumper in the lane and a spin fader in the paint is definitely my move.”
Kendrick has started hearing from college programs over the past year, including Truman State, Central Missouri, Maryville, Columbia College, St. Louis Nichols State and others.