Jacksonville's Kennedy Todd-Williams ready to take next step with Tar Heels
Jacksonville graduate Kennedy Todd-Williams occasionally walked from one end of the sideline onto the middle of the court to throw up a jump ball and to give instruction to participants attending her recent basketball camp at her alma mater.
The North Carolina junior seemed comfortable leading the youngsters during drills and scrimmaging. She was excited to not only be back at The Bird Cage, but using her platform as an ACC player to inspire other girls.
“Really, what prompted me to bring this camp here is that I had to travel a lot of times to go to camps growing up,” Todd-Williams said. “So to use my position and use my knowledge to inspire young females means a lot. If I can do it, they can do it as well.”
Todd-Williams smiled when asked about what kind of impact she looks to make on young players. She said working with the youth is rewarding.
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“I see a lot of ‘I did it,’ from them,” she said. “That feels really good.”
Todd-Williams also has plenty of reason to feel good as she enters her third season with the Tar Heels.
Last season, she was a key cog for North Carolina’s Sweet 16 team after she averaged 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The Tar Heels’ season came to an end with a 69-61 loss to eventual national champion South Carolina.
“Giving South Carolina a run for their money in their home court, we know we can compete with all of these girls,” Todd-Williams said. “It was one of the best games against the No. 1 team in the country. So, it is cool to sit back and reflect what we were able to do. We can move forward knowing that we can do this.”
Todd-Williams became the fifth Onslow County product to play in the NCAA Basketball Tournament and only the second to play in the women’s tournament as a freshman, when the Tar Heels fell in the first round.
One year later, she helped UNC reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. Todd-Williams knows the Tar Heels are no longer under the radar.
“When we beat Arizona in the NCAA Tournament, that definitely put some eyes on us,” she said. “But this is what we want. We want that target on our backs, and we are up for the challenge. We want this to be a great year, and that is why we have been working so hard this summer.”
While Todd-Williams won’t be the only experienced player returning, she does expect herself to take the next step, mentally and physically.
“I think it hit me this summer going through these workouts, and I am expected to do a lot and that I do need to bring that leadership role,” she said. “I know what to expect, I know what I do best and I know what I need to work on. I have high expectations for myself and for our team to try to win an ACC championship and get to the Final Four, but I know I need to continue staying in the gym to work on my game.”
Chris Miller can be contacted via email at chris.miller@jdnews.com. Follow him on twitter @jdnsports.
This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Kennedy Todd-Williams, North Carolina Tar Heels, Jacksonville
