Newsday's Athlete of the Week is Kings Park boys basketball player Kyle Edmundson
Kings Park boys basketball player Kyle Edmundson. Credit: Courtney Romano
Kyle Edmundson makes an impact on the court for the Kings Park boys basketball team, but his influence goes beyond the game.
Off the court, Edmundson volunteers at local basketball youth clinics, where he trains kids from kindergarten through eighth grade.
"I like connecting with the kids and being that role model for them," Edmundson said. "I want to set an example and give them all the knowledge I have."
Edmundson says he sees himself in the kids he trains, and he realized his true ambitions to become a coach one day.
"When I was a kid, I came to camps, and I always had someone to look up to," Edmundson said. "It gave me a new perspective on how to play the game, how to teach the game, and from there, I realized what my true passion was."
But how well does he perform when he's on the court?
The junior is currently averaging 20 points per game, making an 11-point increase from his sophomore year.
The Newsday Athlete of the Week scored a career-high 40 points, and added nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in Kings Park's 75-62 victory over Glenn in a non-league matchup last Saturday.
"It was the quietest 40-point game ever," coach Chris Rube said. "It's effortless for him because he scores in a variety of ways and he doesn't need a lot of dribbles. He is a true three-level scorer."
Rube called up Edmundson as a freshman, and he believes Edmundson has the potential to be one of the best scorers in Kings Park history.
"As he's gaining confidence, I think it opens up a lot of possibilities for him," Rube said. "I'm excited to see where he goes from here. He took the necessary steps in the offseason, so what he's doing right now is no surprise."
The 6-6 small forward says Rube is one of his biggest inspirations, pushing him to be the best version of himself.
"I knew coach Rube since I was in seventh grade," Edmundson said. "I looked at him and told myself, 'I want to be that.' He's the type of coach that will give me the necessary tools to be a great coach one day."
In addition to his performances on the court, Edmundson still finds time to maintain his grades, which are in the 90s.
"I put the same amount of effort on the court as I do off of it," Edmundson said. "I want to play at the next level, so I need good grades if I want to get into a good program."
The junior is ready to go back to the playoffs and make a deep postseason run for the Kingsmen.
"The team and I are ready for the postseason this time around," Edmundson said. "We're not going to overlook anybody. We are going to keep the same mentality we have for every game."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
