He averaged 9.9 points as a sophomore on a team that could have used more action from him. He averaged 10.1 as a junior. After both seasons, he laughed at me when I asked the obligatory questions about whether he would leave for the NBA Draft. I asked, because there is little doubt that he would be chosen in the first round. He laughed, because, well, he knew he was not ready.
Is there a question of those who found him through these first three seasons, that for all the blocks and rebounds he produced, and there was plenty of each was never, he could be a great player to be comprehensive if he believed more in his offensive skill development.
The progress came through his work with Bob Huggins, Mick Cronin, Dan Peters and the rest of the Cincinnati coaches. But faith came when he stepped down from this cocoon and tested for USA Basketball entry into the World University Games in 1999. He encountered the best remaining college players in this training camp - Stanford Mark Madsen, North Carolina Brendan Haywood, Ohio State Michael Redd and Texas Center Chris Mihm. It dawned on Kenyon soon: He was the best player in the gym.
He led that team in scoring with 13.9 points per game, and the USA went 8-0 en route to a gold medal.
When the nominations came out that autumn for wood or Naismith Award - I can not remember what - I had an obligatory quote from him for what as a routine "He is on the list" story for the Enquirer seemed to get.