Brainerd senior Keyshun Bradley with his parents Kevin Bradley and Renita Pollard as he signed scholarship papers Monday to play basketball at Tenn. Wesleyan next year.
Brainerd senior Keyshun Bradley has several goals to attain in life and here are three immediate ones.
1. Graduate from Brained High School ... which he will do in a few weeks with a 3.1 GPA
2. Earn a college scholarship to play basketball … he signed a basketball scholarship with Tenn. Wesleyan Monday, the day after his 18th birthday.
3 Beat his older brother, Kedrick, in a game on 1-on-1 “make it, take it” to 21 … “I have never beaten Kedrick – (who plays football at Liberty Univ.) in 1-on-1, but write it down I will win the next time we play.”
Monday’s signing of scholarship papers with his parents and teammates on hand was much more than just another talented high school player having a signing party – Bradley was all-district, all-region and averaged 10 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds this past season – but a player who worked through tough times to be able to attend college.
“I didn’t have much growing up as we moved from shelter to shelter and church to church for a place to sleep and food to eat,” said Bradley.
Living day to day as a youth and learning to never give up and keep grinding through life’s tough times, the 6-2, 170 pound small forward didn’t play basketball until the sixth grade and then it was a less than impressive start.
“I was not that good my first year of playing basketball and scored exactly no points,” Bradley stated.
But using the tough times of his youth and the encouragement from Kedrick and his dad, Kevin, Bradley spent long hours playing hoops in area rec centers to improve his shot, improve his basketball I.Q. and gain a much-needed confidence in his game
“I was too timid early on,” Bradley stated.
Three years after that less than illustrious start in the sixth grade, the youngest of six brothers and sisters earned a spot on the Hixson High School varsity as a ninth grader and started as a junior before transferring to Brainerd for his senior year.
A senior year in which Bradley and teammate Kentrell Evan, who will sign scholarship papers with Lee University later today, led the Panthers to a 28-6 season and a region title before falling in the first round of the state tournament.
While Bradley’s high school years are nearly behind him, a college career awaits at Tennessee Wesleyan – a program under coach Mike Poe which has won five conference titles and earned five trips to the NAIA national tournament.
“I am a little nervous moving to the next level in my basketball career, but also excited as I will spend this summer working on my game in preparation for college,” Bradley stated.
“The coaches and players at Tenn. Wesleyan have been great to me, I like the school with the small student to teacher ratio as it will give me an opportunity to build relationships with my professors.”
Brainerd coach Lavar Brown said, “Going to Tenn. Wesleyan is a great opportunity for Keyshun and I believe he will flourish in college.It”s perfect fit for him."
While Bradley will work on his game this summer in preparation to go against his teammates in practice this fall to earn playing time, he also will have on his “bucket list” that much anticipated re-match with brother, Kedrick which could happen during the Christmas break.
And he believes the fall practices under coach Poe will prepare him for that 1-on-1 family battle in late December.
contact B.B. Brantion at william.branton@comcast.net