April 22, 2021
By: Dwayne Page
Talented DeKalb County High School basketball player Kennedy Agee has a lot to look forward to. After battling through three debilitating knee injuries which has largely kept her off the court since her freshman year, Agee plans to return to the team and get in a full season her senior year (2021-22). After that, she will be off to Kentucky Christian University to play for the Lady Knights.
Kennedy signed a letter of intent on Friday at DCHS. She shared that special moment with her family, coaches, and teammates .
“I am excited. This is a lifelong dream I have been waiting for but after tearing an ACL three times I never thought it was possible. (KCU) Coach (Lisa) Conn never gave up on me. She kept her eyes on me when I was injured and she is making my dreams come true,” said Agee.
Over two years ago, Agee had her first ACL injury on the left side in the 4th period of a game against Warren County. She worked her way back in seven months instead of the nine doctors expected, but when she returned for a scrimmage game on October 30, 2019, the ACL on her left knee gave out again but after rehealing the unthinkable happened once more. While playing in a travel ball tournament in Alabama on August 16, 2020 Agee hurt one of the major ligaments in her right knee. Still, she never even thought of quitting.
“I am not one to give up. I just knew there was a plan. Whether it was meant for me to play or not it was all in God’s hands and he was going to lead me where I needed to go”, said Agee.
Kennedy said she is a big fan of KCU Coach Lisa Conn and that influenced her decision on where to launch her college basketball career.
“It makes it easier when a coach doesn’t give up on you. Coach Conn never gave up on me no matter how hurt I was or what I was going through,” said Agee. “ Its hard to keep your eyes on a kid who gets injured quite often at the rate I was going but Coach Conn has stuck with me along the way which says a lot about her and that school is everything I could have ever dreamed of having and going to.”
Coach Conn said Kennedy will be a great fit for her program.
“There’s a lot about Kennedy I really like. I think she works extremely hard. Her work ethic is incredible to come back from three ACL tears and just the determination she has but on the court she shoots the ball extremely well and deep. She seems to find the empty man. When she is driving in and sees somebody else open she is going to pass the ball. Kennedy gets after it in all parts of the game and she will bring a lot to our team,” said Coach Conn.
When she gets to Kentucky Christian University, Agee plans to study nursing and obtain an RN degree with a minor in coaching toward basketball and a minor in praise and worship music.
Agee said she has no fears or reservations about getting out on the court again next season.
“I am blessed to be very healthy now and I am completely excited. I have one of the best doctors I could ever ask for. He has taken every precaution with the surgeries he has done on me but whatever happens, happens. God has his hands on me and He will take care of me,” said Agee.
Will the past injuries affect her game?
“It doesn’t slow you down. You just have to learn to play differently and adapt to wearing knee braces and moving differently to keep yourself as safe as possible. I run point guard a little bit but most of the time I am a shooting guard and like the three point shot. I am just blessed to have this opportunity again,” said Agee.
Kennedy’s AAU coaches also joined her at the signing including Mike Johnson and Matt Ferrell, Program Director for Tennessee Rush based in Cookeville, member of the Amateur Athletic Association, the largest non-profit youth sports organization in the country.
“I have known her since she was little and she is as hard a working kid as I have been around. She had every reason to throw in the towel multiple times but hasn’t. There’s not anyone I know of more deserving of playing college basketball than her,” said Ferrell.
Kentucky Christian University (KCU) is a private Christian university in Grayson, Kentucky. It was founded on December 1, 1919. During the early 1920s its emphasis shifted to educating students for the Christian ministry. Degree programs are offered in six schools within the university.
KCU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is authorized to award bachelor’s and master’s degrees. All programs requiring professional licensure (i.e. Nursing, Social Work, and Teacher Education) are professionally accredited.
Kentucky Christian is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Men’s sports include archery, baseball, basketball, bass fishing, cross country/track and field, football, golf and soccer; while women’s sports include archery, basketball, bass fishing, cheerleading, cross country/track and field, golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball. The women’s basketball team has won 15 NCCAA Division II National Championships since 1989.