Local prep standouts return home as seniors
He only played the last three minutes of Nebraska’s 76-57 road victory last Saturday, but Woodbury native Kendall Blue was the only Husker to go perfect on the court, hitting a big three in his only shot attempt. It drew loud cheers, especially among those in the season-high 11,339 in attendance, including family, friends and others. It came at the 24 second mark and finished his team’s scoring for the contest.
“We’ve got over 20 people here, friends and family coming out to support Kendall,” said Kendall’s mom Lisa Lissimore after the game. She played on the same raised floor at The Barn during her one season as a Gopher (1979-80). Last Saturday, she and her husband, Kendall’s dad Dennis Blue, watched their son play his first and only time at Williams Arena.
“It’s a great, great opportunity for him to be on this floor, and to finally play and to bust a three at the end,” Lissimore pointed out.
The 6’6” guard transferred to Nebraska after three seasons at St. Thomas, where he scored 1,013 points, averaging double figures in each of his final two seasons, a starter of 88 games out of 100. But after arriving in Lincoln, his minutes have greatly decreased from starter minutes to barely playing. Coming into last Saturday’s matinee game, Blue played 12 games, 4.4 minutes per game, and 0.6 ppg.
“It was different at first, just like being homesick,” said Blue after the game, “far away from my parents and stuff like that. But as time went on, I just adjusted. The game is a lot faster, a lot stronger, physical, high ranking guys, so everybody’s just as good as me or better.
“It’s been a good adjustment,” he continued. “Everything’s just great down there.”
Nebraska is off to a historic start, the best in program history, as the Huskers notched their 20th win last Saturday against the Gophers and remain unbeaten this season.
Blue is the only Minnesota native on the roster. “Winning is fun,” he admitted.
“He’s managing through this challenge … but he’s doing an excellent job of managing it, maybe even better than his mama,” declared Lissimore.
Blue graduated last spring from St. Thomas as a communication major with a minor in family science. This is his final year of college eligibility — “hoping to play professional, whether it’s overseas or the G-League, whatever the best option for me and my agency,” surmised Blue.
We didn’t ask why he left St. Thomas as a starter to being a non-starter at Nebraska. “Just living day-by-day, and just give thanks to Almighty God above, and my family, my parents and all along those lines,” said Blue.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
Como Park grad has no regrets
Como Park grad has no regrets
Ronnie Porter’s final game at Williams Arena marked a full-circle moment for the St. Paul native, who rose from walk-on to Wisconsin starter and leader.