Griffin Truslow | Contributing Writer

Kennedy Drey is a sophomore on the Buena Vista University (BVU) men’s basketball team. Drey, a business entrepreneurship major, is from Storm Lake where he attended St. Mary’s High School and led his team to a basketball state championship his junior year.

The team has been rolling through conference play only losing 2 of their 10 contests, which has earned them the top spot in the conference, but this is where they expected to be.

“With the amount of talent and senior leadership we have on the floor, we have the ability to accomplish our goal of a regular season conference champs and conference tournament champs,” Drey said.

Drey has played a big role in the success this team has had this season. Drey is third on the team in scoring with 13 points per game, and leads the team in rebounding, 9.3 rebounds per game. These kind of numbers haven’t gone unnoticed by head coach Brian Van Haaften.

“He brings a consistency, which is something you can count on each and every game. He’s a great rebounder; he comes up with a lot of rebound for our guys; and he’s a great compliment to our guard court because of his ability to make threes,” Van Haaften said.

Being an underclassman on a team packed with senior leadership has benefited Drey’s progress from his freshman season, where he averaged 4.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game.

“With the group of guys around me, it makes it a lot easier. We’re like a family; we know what everyone is going to do on the floor, and with the amount of experience we have, it has made it a lot easier on me,” Drey said.

Not only is the senior leadership helping Drey, but with the numbers he is putting up, he’s impressing senior guard Grady Gallagher.

“As long as Kennedy spends as much time in the gym this summer as he does on the farm, the sky is the limit for his potential. Kennedy is a very unique player that is great finishing around the basket but also has a good outside shot,” Gallagher said.

With four games left in the season, the Beavers look to secure the regular season championship title and keep that momentum going into the conference tournament. The Beavers will resume play on Wednesday, Feb. 11 inside Siebens Fieldhouse at 8:00 p.m.