Former Bleu Devil plays pro basketball overseas

New Orleans - Kenyon Duling, a former Bleu Devil athlete has continued his career as a basketball player into the professional world playing for club KK Radnicki Gorazde in Bosnia.

Duling, known by the athletic department as "KD", had several notable games during his season at Dillard. The most notable being the rivalry game against Xavier University of Louisiana where Duling led in scoring with 30 points, contributing to the 11-point win against the Gold Nuggets. 

KD served as a combo guard during his season at Dillard and acknowledged his time defending the Battlefield as "one of his favorite years of his college career." Having been at five universities in five years, Duling has no doubt encountered many personalities from players to coaches. But, he reflects on his time at Dillard as being rewarding and bringing him "lifelong brothers" who "motivated him to be the best version of himself everyday." Of course, he also attributes his success to his coaches, former assistant coach Ashanti Gray and head coach Joseph Price. 

Regarding Price's effect on his development, Duling states, "…not knowing or recruiting any of us and coming in [he] really played a part in my development to help me be the best player that I could be. The season didn't end the way we wanted it to, but nonetheless I appreciate my coaches and my brothers for going to war with me everyday between those lines, and I would do it all over again if I could." 

This year is not his first season of pro basketball, but his second. Duling played for Gence in Azerbaijan where he averaged 15.2 PPG, 2.5 rebounds and 2 assists. Duling stated that the biggest learning curve he experienced when transitioning from college to the pros was physicality. "It's guys over there that are in their 30s and 40s so they're tapping into their grown man strength. I had to get in the weight room more just to get myself in the best shape possible to be able to play with the big boys."

The second biggest learning curve he experienced was the pace and tempo of the game. Duling states,"In college there's a 30 second shot clock and overseas it's 24. You have to be able to adjust on the fly and pick things up quickly. Coaches don't always call plays either, so you have to be able to rely on your natural, God-given talent and make plays."

Duling joins the list of former Bleu Devils playing professional basketball with the likes of Malik Amos and Da'Rell Domineck, both in the 2019 graduating class. Duling's piece of advice to all of the up-and-coming NAIA athletes is to, "Control what you can control, run your own race because everybody's path is different. If this is something you want to do you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable! You're going to have good days and bad days, games and practices included, but it's all a part of the journey!"

Now to Dillard Bleu Devil basketball, Duling has a special message, " I'm wishing the team this year the best of luck! Getting all the way to the championship game and ultimately falling short should be fuel to the fire this year! Get back in there and finish strong! Just take it one game at a time."

-Bleu Devils-