This 14-year-old kid's got game.
Kemar Alleyne, a Grade 9 student at Pope John Paul Catholic Secondary School is what one might classify a two-way player, but it's not in the traditional sense. The "quiet superstar" is making his mark athletically at the school and in the Scarborough community and coaches are taking notice. In fact, some are even champing at the bit at the prospect of making the young star a part of their respective roster next season, be it volleyball, basketball or soccer. Kemar, a member of the local high school's International Baccalaureate program, is holding his own too in the classroom. "I'd come into the gym early and there he'd be, on the bench doing his homework," said Pope John Paul C.S.S. teacher and volleyball coach, Melanie MacLean, who has known the multi-sport talent since just the fall, but she's seen enough to qualify her for comment. Kemar, who played key roles with each his East Division champion junior high school basketball team and his provincial champion Scarborough Blues' Number 2 squad - where he drained a game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer - is the first one to celebrate the success of another or comfort a struggling team mate, she said. "Never do you see (him) upset with his team mates or negatively question the call of an official and never do you see him give coaches any difficulty," noting in a dozen or so games she has "yet to witness him miss a foul shot.""Really, he is the heart and soul of everything he's a part of. And to watch him hit that game-winning three (with the Blues) and get that glory was just so magical...and yet you look at him and he's celebrating like someone else scored."Very much the silent type, Kemar's not much for talking about his athletic prowess, but his father, Steve, is. Even as a young kid, he said his athletic acumen was quite evident. A former Scarborough Soccer Association standout with Malvern, the shining star was already fielding interest from local rep soccer coaches at the tender age of seven. Kemar, who also has a calling on the track, has since set his sights on basketball and an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, according to dad, who himself is a former Birchmount Park Collegiate track star.In the meantime Kemar will keep all his options open. "He's very passionate about sports, but he is also very passionate about his school work," he said, noting he also has a keen interest in law. "He's doing the right things. I think everything is going to work out for him," he said.