Cedric Kuakumensah '16, who hails from Worcester, Mass., is one of the newest additions to the men's basketball team. In a squad that finds itself in the midst of reconstruction - with a brand new coach and a fresh starting lineup - Kuakumensah has managed to find his place with solid performances at the start of the season.
In the past week, he notched double-doubles against Bryant University and St. Francis University. He scored a career-high 14 points against Bryant, rewarding Head Coach Mike Martin's '04 decision to place the first-year in the starting lineup. For this impressive start to his college career, Kuakumensah has been named Athlete of the Week.
Herald: What's been your impression of Brown in these first couple months?
Kuakumensah: Brown has been a great place for me. I just fit in perfectly with the team. Outside of basketball, I just felt that Brown has welcomed me with open arms. It's just been a really fun experience.
How does playing in college compare to high school?
Everything's a step faster. Early in the season, I was just a step behind, a second behind, and I need to adjust to the speed.
When did you start playing basketball?
I started playing basketball in fourth grade. I was kind of tall, so one of my teachers thought that I should play basketball. At first, I was very uncoordinated - I was tripping over my own feet. But as time went by, I started to get better.
Do you have any idols, either athletes or otherwise?
Athletes - my idol, I would have to say, is Kobe Bryant. He's just an amazing athlete. And non-athlete - probably my mother.
Do you have a favorite professional team?
The Lakers. It's kind of weird, because I'm from the Boston area, where everyone loves the Celtics, and I'm just that one guy that loves the Lakers.
What did you think of your performance in these past two games, where you had back-to-back double-doubles?
I feel that having a double-double sounds good and all, but I feel that I didn't play as well as I could have. There were just some things that I slacked on defensively, some open layups, shots that I missed offensively. To me it was just showing myself that, "Yeah, you can get a double-double, but you can't be satisfied with that."
How have your performances been compared to your expectations?
Personal expectations: my performances have been pretty bad. And considering the fact that we had the double-doubles and we lost the two games, it didn't mean much to me. I think the expectations are set high for me, and I'll reach them eventually.
What are some of your goals and dreams going forward?
This season, a goal of mine is definitely to win the Ivy League championship, and I think that's a goal we're going to have all four years here. I just want to win as much as possible.
ADVERTISEMENT
