Sinclair Pride point guard Kevin Vest describes himself as an old school type of player, a style that he learned from his first coach: his father Mark Vest, a hall of famer at both Carroll and Wright State.
“I’ve been around (basketball) my entire life, so it was easy to pick up,” Vest said. “I come from a big time basketball family. My sister plays at Western Michigan and my dad played at Wright State.”
Vest said he likes to make easy passes and knock down open jumpers much like his father used to, but has added some new elements to his game this year.
“I’ve always been an offensive-minded player, so I focused a lot on defense over the summer,” he said.
Vest said leg workouts, full court slides and an assortment of other exercises this summer have added 10 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-1 frame. He said the extra size and strength will keep him on the court even longer this year.
“Every team has a coach, but another thing great teams have is coaches on the court,” Vest said. “As the point guard, I’m the coach’s eyes and ears on the court.”
Vest said he is a vocal leader on the team and is one of the first players to speak up when the team is not performing well.
“Off the court I’m pretty laid back and easy to talk to, but on the court I’m really intense and competitive,” he said.
Besides his father, Vest said the person he has modeled his game after most is two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.
“(Nash) is my favorite all-time basketball player because he’s a short, white guy that plays point guard the same style I do,” Vest said. “He’s a great shooter, but he adds his own little flare with the no look and behind the back passes, which I must say I try to do a lot.”
Vest said he hopes to transfer to a Division-I school after this season, but his goal this year is to get the Pride to the National Championship tournament.
“I’m very excited about this season. This is probably the most athletically gifted team I’ve ever been a part of,” Vest said. “I feel like this team can be great.”