A talented shooting guard who played for the Tasmanian JackJumpers in the NBL during the past two seasons has linked with UniSC Rip City.
Matt Kenyon has migrated north for the winter, to compete in Queensland’s main basketball competition, the NBL1 North.
The 25-year-old was living out a dream a few years ago, trialling with NBA teams and playing in the G-League in the US, when the world grounded to a halt.
“It was pretty crazy, at the time we knew nothing about COVID or how dangerous it was or wasn’t,” he said.
“No one knew what was going to happen prior to our last game we didn’t even know if we were going to play, because the NBA had just got cancelled five minutes before our game so we assumed we wouldn’t play.
“We ended up playing that game and afterwards we got told the season was cancelled and everyone was going to lockdown.
“It was pretty stressful at the time being in the States by myself with no family and nowhere to really go so I just asked for a flight out of there asap and got back to Australia.”
The 196cm guard returned home and resumed his NBL career and the former Brisbane Bullet has played two season with the Tasmanian Jackjumpers.
“Tassie has been amazing the past two years,” he said.
“The whole state just embraced us from the moment we got there and it’s been some of the best times of my professional career so far without a doubt.”
The free agent chose to come north for the winter while he ponders his next move.
“I’m a free agent now so we will see how that plays out over the next few weeks but I’d definitely be keen to head back there but you just never know with professional sports,” Kenyon said.
“I chose to come to Sunny Coast, one to escape the Tassie winter and have some good weather and waves, but also because I know how talented the team is and the possibility of winning a championship.
“I liked what (coach) Nathan (Arousi) has in store for us and his coaching style also.”
Kenyon has the ability to defend multiple positions for Rip City and plans on crashing the boards for the Sippy-Downs based club.
“I feel like I can be one of the best rebounding guards in the league and also score in different ways,” he said.
“The squad has a lot of experience at a very high level of basketball and I think I can come in and bring more knowledge and help lead when I can.”
Despite highs and lows in his career, Kenyon was focused on the work that has taken him to the G League and Australian team.
He trusted this work ethic will get him where he needs to be.
“I’m not too sure (what’s next) to be completely honest. I’m just enjoying my life, enjoying basketball and taking it day by day,” he said.
“Keep working hard and good things will come. I would love to represent the Boomers again in a major competition. There’s no greater honour than representing your country, so I’d say that would be a goal of mine.
“Also I think to get a defensive player of the year in the NBL would be another goal of mine.”
The NBL1 North season starts on March 25, when Rip City will host local rivals Sunshine Coast Phoenix at UniSC Stadium.
For more information on Rip City, including sponsorship, partnership and fan information, see USC Rip City.
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