This past week, two of the best basketball players in university history reached epic milestones in their respective careers. With his sixteenth point on Thursday versus St. Joseph’s, co-captain Kanem Johnson ’04 became Wesleyan’s all-time leading scorer, while teammate and co-captain Keala Mills ’04 became only the sixteenth player in men’s basketball history to score 1,000 points as a Cardinal.
With just over two minutes gone by in the second half against St. Joseph, Johnson found himself at the free throw line trailing Leo Jones ’02 by one point for the scoring record. After swishing home two free throws, the scoring record was officially his. After a 31-point showing in a commanding 88-65 victory over Connecticut College Camels on Saturday, Johnson’s record now stands at 1,584.
Following the team’s 99-67 victory over St. Joe’s, Johnson was almost at a loss for words when asked to describe the feeling of being the all-time leading scorer in school history.
“It feels really good,” said Johnson. “Out of all the people that came here, to have the most points in history, wow. At the time though, I wasn’t even thinking about it. I wasn’t concerned when it was happening, I didn’t want to take away from the game and the outcome. I was focused on the three things I normally do during my free throw routine, on my mechanics.”
Even after reaching the coveted record, Johnson did not sit back and relax. On the very next St. Joe’s possession, Johnson used his quick hands to steal the ball away from the opposition, and found an open Mills for a three pointer, displaying his characteristic work ethic.
“Kanem is certainly one of the best players I have ever coached,” said Head Coach Gerry McDowell. “He has great character, he loves playing the game of basketball, and he is certainly committed. But Kanem does the things he needs to do in the off-season. It has paid off as he has gotten better each year,”
Keala Mills, Johnson’s teammate the past four years, found himself making history as well last week. Averaging 21.8 points per game this season, Mills netted 22 to join only Johnson and 14 others in the 1,000 point scoring club.
According to Johnson, Mills brings a serious competitive edge to the team as soon as he sets foot on the court.
“Keala has been able to step it up as of late,” Johnson said. “He has taken great pride in what he does, and plays at almost an unconscious level on the court. He leads by example, but his biggest asset is his competitiveness. When his buttons are pushed, watch out.”
As Mills and Johnson have battled together over the past four years, it is only fitting that both players were there for each other as they reached their milestones.
“Keala has always been there for me,” Johnson said. “He has been the one to assist me on all my dunks, on my 1,000th point, and he was able to get me the ball on Thursday as I broke the record.”
Mills has certainly made an impression on his freshman teammates as well.
Starting point guard Jarred Ashe ’07 spoke admiringly of his teammate and his milestone.
“He is certainly the best pure shooter I have ever played with, he’s a lights out player,” said Ashe. “He has lots of confidence on the floor. It is really special to be a part of the record, and its special for all of us to witness something like it.”
In recent action, Johnson and Mills added to their totals against Connecticut College, where they combined for 55 points, while sharp shooter Tim Holland ’05 continued his hot shooting after a dazzling the home crowd versus St. Joseph’s with five three pointers. Holland combined for 33 points in both contests.
The Cardinals will travel to Vermont on Friday to take on the Middlebury Panthers, before facing a tough three game stretch in which they will take on Williams, Trinity, and Amherst to close out the season before the NESCAC Championships.
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