Some kids make decisions, the hard decisions and the right decisions. It’s not always easy to do this. Doing the right thing is not always the easy thing because it doesn’t always come with guarantees. In the case of Kiera McKown her decisions have come up like smelling like daisies. That’s because she has received a full scholarship to continue her basketball career at East Stroudsburg University.
For years Howell high school has not been know for producing many basketball players who play at the next level. Most of the players in the program played low level AAU and played for the enjoyment of playing a sport. They really wasn’t any big expectations. That is until recently and it all starts with one player in particular… KIERA McKOWN! You see last year Kiera McKown decided she wanted more from the sport of basketball. So she made a few hard decisions. First she decided she was going to work as hard as should could to become the best player she could become. She then decided that she wanted her high school team to be more than just a group of nobodies. Then lastly she decided she would challenge herself and play with the best of the best. These were all decisions that could have blown up in Kiera’s face. These were not easy things to accomplish or change. But I guess they say no risk and no reward. Well Kiera McKown has been rewarded for making the tough decisions.
HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL, has not been much of conversation around the shore and state when it comes to hoops. But then again they haven’t had had anyone like Kiera McKown in recent years. Someone who is athletic and can jump out of the building. Someone that score in the post, get out in transition or shoot jumpers. Someone that can anchor a defense in the lane. Someone that leads by example. Last season Howell went 20-8 and when they bumped off Top 5 RBR everyone thought it was a fluke. That’s not the case these days because they won the A North Chip. Then won their FIRST SECTIONAL STATE CHIP in schools history, then upset Hightstown in the state tournament. Howell High School had a dream season and did a lot of winning. They finished ranked in the Shore Top 10. Nobody could have seen this coming. Well nobody except their talented Coach, Joe Santopietro, who knew he had one of the best players in the shore. A player that would score 323 points, grab 286 rebounds, block 91 shots and have over 50 steals. Yes Kiera McKown was a walking double/double. But it was Her complete domination that made her special. That made Howell special as well. Kiera McKown decided she wanted her high school to be thought as one of the best and that exactly what Howell is these days.. thanks largely due to her determination and commitment.
Howell players don’t usually challenge themselves in the off season. Kiera McKown was one of those Howell players doing much of the same thing. That was until last fall. When she decided she could roll with the big dogs. That is until she decided she was going to truly challenge herself and her game. So started training and playing again some of the best players in New Jersey. She lived in the gym 7 days a week. She also proved and she knew that she could play with anyone. It was this that set her up for that great high school season. Then Kiera McKown made perhaps the biggest decision in her young athletic life. She decided to step up her level of AAU competition. She decided it was time to play in front of 100’s of coaches. She decided to take the biggest risk of all and leave comfortable behind. So told the very people who had developed her game, gave her a home and taught her how to love basketball, TEAM SWISH that she was leaving to join the Shoreshots. Mary Beth Chambers list of players that she has developed during her AU coaching career has no match. Nobody has her track record. Kiera McKown trusted coach Chambers with her career. The result was instant magic. Kiera saw her game reach heights she could never have dreamed of this spring and summer. COACH CHAMBERS, helped her become a better shooter, passer, defender and improved her basketball IQ. The result was Kiera McKown found herself in a recruiting war. Another tough decision had paid off for Kiera McKown
Kiera McKown, had Division one offers, the best of the best D2 offers and D3 offers. She had offers from every level. She had to make a hard decision this fall. It was not an easy decision. Picking a college is never easy. But getting a free education makes the pain a little less painful. But Kiera knows what toughness is and understands what hard times look like. Her mother Shannon has made every sacrifice a mom can make for a daughter. She has done the traveling and worked the extra job. Done the overtime. Found the money for the training somehow and for the AAU trips. Shannon McKown has been a super woman and SUPERMOM. It’s why daughter didn’t just pick the biggest school or the biggest name. She wanted to play with her AAU friends in college. Her father Adrian Hyman has watched his daughter grow into this beautiful Alpha Female and beams with a smile seeing her. Kiera knew asst Coach Bob Dubina who was a Shoreshots coach, and she connected with Head Coach Gibbons . She knew and learned from her mother, trust and family matter… SO KIERA MCKOWN JOINED THE EAST STROUDSBURG FAMILY.
It been a journey for Kiera McKown. A journey from that took some hard decisions along the way. A journey the required make real personal sacrifices. But it’s been a journey witless with rewards.. now KIERA MCKOWN is collecting the biggest reward of all…. A FREE EDUCATION
CONGRATS TO TEAM KIERA MCKOWN AND EAST STROUDSBURG!
KIERA MCKOWN OFFICIAL VIDEO….ESU and Kiera SMELLING LIKE DAISES
