The above picture would not say much if you just looked at it. The person shooting is Kendrick Perry, a Youngstown State standout.  He is something to see, always gives me something to write about and makes me say ‘wow’ at least once a game.

In a 53-49 win on Friday night, Perry put up subpar numbers.  He was 2-13 from the field, 0-5 from three-point land, and made 6-10 free throws, but missed three in overtime.

Back to the picture. This was taken a half hour after the game.  Perry wheeled the rebounding machine out and shot free throws for about an hour.  The gym was pretty well empty and I was so inspired by his dedication to do more, again, that I had to post the picture tonight.  Most players were happy to get the win, had their box of pizza, and were headed back to the dorms.  The last thing on Perry’s mind was pizza.

Perry might still be at the Beeghly Center, maybe he stopped to eat some of his pizza, but I would bet until he makes 100 or 1,000 or whatever number he has in his mind, he isn’t going to leave.  I’m thinking about driving back, now two hours after the game ended to bring the guy a Gatorade. You will not find many kids playing college sports with this kind of work ethic.

About a half hour into the unscheduled shooting practice, YSU Coach Jerry Slocum slowly walked, trying to mask a proud smile, toward Perry to talk with him (above).  Slocum has bragged about the sophomore’s work ethic in the past, but to me, seeing was believing.  After about a five minute chat, Slocum headed out, Perry put the earbuds back in and started shooting free throws.  I left about twenty minutes after that, even waved to Perry.  It was surreal to me that a sophomore in college would want to get better this much after his team won a game.

In an interview conducted earlier this year, Slocum marveled at some of the things that Perry has done to get better.

“I went to breakfast early one Saturday, and wanted to stop by my office before I worked out”, recalled Slocum.  “Nobody knew I was coming, but when I opened the door of the gym and heard a ball bouncing, I was in awe to see KP shooting, doing whatever he could to make himself a better player, without being told to.  Here is a kid who elected to wake up early on a Saturday morning and shoot without being told.  That is the attitude of a winner.”

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