Southland Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

15. Shamarkus Kennedy

A 6’8 frontcourt weapon from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Kennedy mostly played center in his collegiate career and would have some great years in the Southland. He actually got his career started at Chipola College before transferring to McNeese State back in 2018. He’d be a full-time starter for those last two seasons under Heath Schroyer with the Cowboys and put up some pretty great numbers in the process.

Though McNeese State struggled as a team, his first season was pretty productive, with Kennedy averaging 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds as he adjusted to D1 basketball. With the adjustment complete, his senior season was a breakout campaign, notching 18.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks a game, averaging a double-double in a slightly better season for the Cowboys. Among the highlights was a 37-point effort against Houston Baptist followed a few weeks later by a 22-point, 21-rebound performance against Central Arkansas. Perhaps his best performance came earlier in the year with a 17-point, 10-rebound, 10-block game against UMKC.

As a senior, Kennedy was named First Team All-Southland and Defensive Player of the Year in the conference. He was a complete package for the Cowboys, leading the Southland in field goal percentage, scoring, rebounding and a number of efficiency metrics. His 81 blocks on the year were the 11th best total in the nation. Kennedy fit well into Schroyer’s system and played marvelous basketball for the Cowboys, even though both seasons ended up under .500.