Traveling from a little city, Hamilton, Canada, senior Kevin Kangu came to JC for the first time in 2013. He was used to be everything being in French, so it took some time for him to adjust. However, one thing that has always the same to him is basketball.

Kangu, born in the Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, moved to Canada when he was two.

Kangu is a 6-foot-4-inch combo guard who came to JC in his sophomore year. After two years and hours upon hours in the gym and on the court, Kangu is currently a starting guard for the varsity squad.   

He knows the team is not as deep as in the past, but with the talent they have he thinks they can “still compete at a high level and be a force in the post-season.”

“Playing behind Kimbal [Mackenzie] and Elijah [Long] and the other veterans helped me because I got to learn from them and their roles. This year I had to take up the role, being a senior and a veteran leader, so just watching them lead helped me lead from the front this year,” Kangu said.

Hard work became the norm for Kangu when he joined the team. He practiced every day with the team, but just doing what was required didn’t satisfy him. “I try and get into the gym to get more shots up anytime I can,” he said.

Kangu’s hard work is paying off as he has several basketball scholarship offers from Middle Tennessee State and Bryant University. Other schools that are interested in Kangu include; Towson, St. Bonaventure, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Northern Illinois, Tulane, and Coppin State.

However, next year Kangu plans to reclassify and go to a prep school in Canada. After reclassifying he will go to school next year, and not only get more prepared for college academically, but also enhance his basketball skills as well. Meaning, Kangu will graduate with the class of 2017.

This season Kangu’s role on the team is different. Since five seniors left last year, four starters, he has to take on a more prominent role.

According to varsity head coach Tony Martin, Kangu averages 7.5 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal per game.

“I love playing with Kevin because he’s extremely versatile. He can score, rebound, and best of all defend. You can count on him to basically shut down the opponent’s best player night in and night out,” sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley said.

Playing in one of the top high school basketball leagues in the country, the Baltimore Catholic League, Kangu has to face adversity every game. “Playing for JC has helped me grow as a person because in this league you come across things that really test your will. That is what it’s all about, continue to fight, or quit,” Kangu said.

Martin tries to get his players to always compete in every game and have a defensive mentality. “Kevin brings great energy and a strong defensive presence to an inexperienced squad,” Martin said.

In the BCL championship game last year against Calvert Hall in Towson, JC lost on a last-second tip in. On Nov. 25, the exact same thing happened against Calvert Hall, this time at JC. Kangu takes these experiences and uses them to “motivate himself and prepare for the next game.”

“In this league you have to not only have a next play mentality, but with three games a week, a next game mentality,” Kangu said.

Kangu’s expectation for this year’s team is to be “right up there with all the other good teams in our league and to do well in the playoffs.”

Mike Moxley is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.