For Miles Kenny, Winning is "All in the Family"

LSU forward Miles Kenny comes from a long line of successful athletes.  You name a sport, and I could probably name one of Miles's siblings who excels in it:  Football, lacrosse, basketball . . . 

And this is not the first season in which I have had the privilege of coaching one of the Kenny men in basketball.  Last year's Peapack-Gladstone Bulls won a trophy for the regular season championship of the 5th and 6th grade division of the Chester League.  The leader of that team was one Will "Magic" Kenny.

When we started the Bulls, we had two players named Will (Will Kenny and Will Howes).  That situation clearly demanded nicknames.  At the first practice, Will Kenny made shot after shot, to which I quipped, "I guess we've got that old Kenny magic!" which was a reference to the Will's athletic prowess and that of his family.   The nickname "Magic" stuck.  Magic Kenny led the team to a 9-1 regular season record and the league championship.

Exit "Magic" Kenny to the 7th and 8th grade team.  Enter Miles Kenny, one of our fabulous fifth graders.

Miles helps LSU win in a number of ways:  rebounding, defense, points, steals.  He brings a joy to practice and to the games.  He makes it clear that he loves to be there and wants basketball to last forever.  Once Miles called me to ask what time that our 4:30 practice would end, to which I answered:  "Midnight.  Is that OK?"

Miles immediately answered "I wish!"  In other words, Miles would be happy to come and shoot hoops and be with his team mates for hours and hours.

Miles did not get an official nickname at the beginning of the LSU practice season, but maybe he doesn't need one - he is the only Miles on the team, and his name rhymes with "smiles", which is what I see every time Miles comes into the gym.