There is a cabinet full of letters sitting in the dining room of Markus Kennedy’s Yeadon home. The letters come from every corner of the college basketball world, all trying to woo the 6-9, 250-pound power forward from Living Faith Christian Academy, of Pennsauken, N.J.

But it seems as if a simple acknowledgment last summer has gone a long way in landing Kennedy, a prized power forward, who will stay home and play for Villanova in 2010, sources told the Daily News. The Wildcats were the first to notice Kennedy and the first to offer him a scholarship.

Kennedy will have a news conference Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., at Living Faith, where he is expected to choose the Wildcats over West Virginia and Temple, sources said.

It was former Villanova assistant coach Pat Chambers who noticed Kennedy at a basketball tournament last summer. Kennedy, who has not played competitive basketball very long, though has quick hands and good feet for someone his size from years of swimming, was impressed by the Villanova program.

“What I think sold Markus, who is a great kid, is coach [Jay] Wright,” a source close to Kennedy said. “The family are good people, they’re local and they want to see Markus play as much as possible. With what Villanova runs, and the way Markus moves on the court, he’s a perfect fit for what they do. He’s a great addition.”

Kennedy averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds as a junior for Living Faith.

Wright already has a major class coming for 2009, including Roman Catholic’s Maalik Wayns, Dominic Cheek, of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) and 6-9 Mouphtaou Yarou, of Montrose Christian School, of Rockville, Md.
 

Daily News staff