Sophomore Kedrick Curtis blossoms in 2nd season with Seton Hill men's basketball team

To most basketball observers in Westmoreland County, Kedrick Curtis is the kid who hit the miracle shot for Seton Hill.

Against Glenville State on the last day of November, Curtis, a sophomore forward from Baltimore, heaved in a three-quarter-court shot as time expired to give the Griffins a 73-72 victory. Curtis was mobbed by teammates afterward, solidifying a moment that will live in Seton Hill basketball lore in perpetuity.

And while Curtis acknowledges the significance of the shot in terms of his basketball visibility, he at the same time hopes it isn’t what defines him. He would prefer to be thought of as the 2023-24 PSAC West Newcomer of the Year, as one of the top players in the conference, as a leader for the young Griffins.

As his sophomore season has progressed, Curtis has shown he is, indeed, more than that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

Entering Saturday’s PSAC matchup at Edinboro, the 6-foot-7 Curtis was averaging team highs of 14.4 points and 7.4 rebounds (tied for fifth in the conference). His field-goal percentage of 56.5 ranked sixth in the conference.

More importantly, he has the Griffins in the hunt for a postseason berth. The Griffins are 7-10 in the PSAC West (14-11 overall), overcoming a rough stretch when they lost six of seven games — including three of their first four in the division — between Dec. 14 and Jan. 18.

“I think the best is yet to come,” coach Ben Wilkins said. “We’re playing really good basketball. Our whole mission from the start was to be the best team in March, and I think we’re headed that way.”

A significant part of that can be attributed to Curtis’ play. But Curtis might not be at this point in his development were it not for one crucial decision.

Last season, Wilkins approached the then-freshman Curtis about the possibility of taking a redshirt. The Griffins were a more veteran group a year ago, and Wilkins told Curtis he wasn’t sure how much playing time he would get.

Curtis declined the redshirt.

“One of the things that makes him special is his ability to be self-aware, look in the mirror and realize what he needs to do, to put the work into it and believe in himself,” Wilkins, in his third season at Seton Hill, said. “He wanted to bet on himself, and as the year kept going, he earned more and more minutes.

“And it was truly earned.”

Wilkins described Curtis as a “throwback” player, one who isn’t averse of instruction and isn’t afraid of going above and beyond the work that’s required.

“My pops had me when he was about 45, so I just kind of grew up with his mentality like, nothing is given,” Curtis said. “Everything is earned. You’ve got to earn your respect wherever you go.”

Curtis began his freshman season routinely getting between 10 and 15 minutes per game. As his production increased, so, too, did his minutes. By the end of the season, he had started seven of the Griffins’ final eight games.

He finished with averages of 8.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17 minutes per game. And the PSAC West Rookie of the Year award.

In the offseason, Curtis knew he would take on even more responsibility on a roster that was heavy with freshmen and sophomores. So he did the usual drills and training most basketball players do. But he did something else that illustrates his thoughtful approach to the game.

“Something I picked up at the middle and end of last year was I started to journal,” he said. “And I talk to our mental health coach, Miss (Hadara) Katarski a lot. That just helps me. I will be asking for tips like, ‘How can I lead this way?’

“I can’t tell someone else to run hard and play hard in practice if I’m not doing it myself. If people see me doing that, they’ll want to follow, and if I get on them, they’ll be more willing to accept it.”

Added Wilkins: “Part of that leadership is he wants to be coached, and I’ll coach ‘Keddie’ hard. He wants to be coached hard, and he takes it. And that helps because if you’re the ninth man, and you’re getting coached, it’s easier to say, ‘Coach is coaching everybody.’ ”

Curtis has remained consistent throughout the season. He has started every game and scored in double figures in all but three, reaching at least 20 points four times.

One of those was against Gannon, which already has clinched the top seed in the West. The Griffins won that Jan. 25 meeting, with Curtis scoring 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting. He also had nine rebounds.

Not all of Curtis’ points come around the rim. He will, on occasion, step out and shoot a 3-pointer. He has taken only 55 3s in his 52 career games but has made 23 (41.8%), so teams have to respect his outside shot.

“I’ve always been very versatile,” he said. “If you need me to be more of a bruiser or a screener, I can do that. Or if you want me to come off a ball screen in transition and make some plays, I can do that.”

The Griffins will need all of Curtis’ skills if they are to earn a spot in the PSAC Tournament. While Curtis remains focused on the task at hand, he has big dreams, such as winning a PSAC title and playing in the NCAA Tournament.

Whether that happens this year or in the next two remains to be seen. Suffice it to say, however, Curtis will have a big role in any success the Griffins achieve.

“The ball is in my hands a little bit more this year,” he said. “I know I can create a lot of pressure on the rim, so … just knowing my spots and just knowing when to create for other players.”