Hoops Feature: Kevin Kalu

When you watch UTEP soph omore forward Kevin Kalu play basketball, a couple of things immediately jump out. He’s a physical player who can defend extremely well and his offensive game is starting to develop.

Given his background, all of that makes sense. Most Division I college basketball players grew up eating, breathing, and playing as much basketball as possible. It’s a different story for Kalu, who didn’t start playing competitive basketball until he was 17 years old. Prior to spending time on the hardwood, he competed on the mat as a wrestler.

“I was 17 was when I just started playing basketball for real,” Kalu said. “I wasn’t as good, but I just kept working every day. I got a late start. I used to wrestle and then everybody told me to play basketball. I gave it a try, and I liked it.”

Miner fans are thankful that Kalu took to the game. He has been a defensive stalwart thus far in 2022-23. His offensive game is also coming along as he’s hit a team-leading 76.5 percent (13-17) of his shots from the floor while elevating his scoring average from 1.5 ppg a year ago to 5.5 ppg through six contests. He attrib utes his early success, particularly on offense, to hard work in the offseason.

“I worked a lot on my touch, my finishing with both hands,” Kalu said. “I worked on catching, my counters, finishing through contact. I also worked on my strength and vertical and getting a better understanding of the game by watching more film.”

Even though there’s been a marked improvement to Kalu’s game, he isn’t satisfied with where he’s at yet. “There’s a lot more that I can improve on,” Kalu said. “I can see where my potential is. I just have to keep getting better every day and being more consistent.”

The growth was evident when he scored a career-high 13 points in the 40-point win against Sul Ross State. The consistency that he seeks showed up as he fol lowed that effort with eight crucial points (3-3 FG, 2-2 FT) in an over time victory against Alcorn State on Nov. 22.

As far as his success on de fense, for Kalu it all comes down to one thing. “Defense is just about effort,” Kalu said. “Whenever I’m on the defensive side, I just try to give it all that I’ve got.”

His background in wrestling also helps him by bringing physi cality to the floor anytime the 6-8, 240-pound has the opportunity to compete. Even when he runs into someone taller and stronger, Kalu isn’t intimidated

“Wrestling (in the past) helps me hold my own against strong dudes, bigger dudes,” Kalu said. “I wrestled for two years before starting to do more basketball work.”