City of Basketball Love

Dan Arkans (@dan arkans)
--

August 18 was always a meaningful date to Westtown senior guard Jayden Kelsey.

Ten years ago Kelsey’s grandfather Charles Shaffer passed away on that day. To say this had a deep impact on him would be a gross understatement. 

“He was my closest relationship,” Kelsey said. “He was my motivation in continuing my basketball career. That was my guy. He taught me a lot about basketball, a lot about life.”

Kelsey made it even more meaningful this year, committing to Binghamton University to continue his basketball and academic career.

Basketball has been in Kelsey’s blood since birth. His grandfather is in the Phoenixville Hall of Fame after a stellar career. His father Levon was an AAU coach for years in Douglasville, coaching Kelsey up until high school.

Often his father brought kids onto the team who only had one chance at bettering their life and that was through basketball. It was something that always reasonated with Kelsey.

“My dad brought a lot of city kids to Douglasville,” Kelsey said. “He would bring them there and change their whole lives around. Basketball gets them to college. You are going to school because of basketball. When you are there you need to flip it around and get an education. That’s how I look at it today.” 

While Kelsey’s journey began in Douglasville with AAU basketball at a young age, there was a little detour six years ago. The Kelseys moved to Colorado as his father needed to relocate for his computer engineering profession.

Kelsey continued his development there, but always had one eye on getting back to the Philly area to improve his chances of developing his game.

“There are not as many schools that recruit in Colorado,” Kelsey said. “That was in my mind 8th grade year. There wasn’t a place that was right. After freshman year Westtown showed. My parents were okay with coming back. Our family is all in Pennsylvania.”

The 6-foot-7 Kelsey, who describes himself as someone who can play anywhere on the floor, took the lessons from his family, and began to utilize them at Westtown. Always playing against players two years older in his AAU development, Kelsey had to find a way to survive and he did with an extremely high basketball IQ.

That intelligence only grew at Westtown as under the tutelage of coach Seth Berger he really began to flourish.

“Something I learned from coach Seth was KYP, know your personnel,” Kelsey said. “Is this tough shot over this big man a better shot than to kick it out for an open 3? Does that guy shoot the 3 well? What is the best option? Was it smart to put the ball in these kids’ hands, knowing people’s strengths and weaknesses.”

While the game and IQ continued to develop, the looks and offers didn’t start until Westtown played in the Mid-Atlantic Independent Showcase at the Hun School in June. That’s when Binghamton first witnessed Kelsey, who also received offers from Lafayette and NJIT.

To say Binghamton took an interest in Kelsey right away would be an understatement.

“Binghamton was very good at pursuing me,” Kelsey said. “Ever since Hun they have not missed one game. Coach (Levell Sanders) has been at every single game. Some college coaches come off as annoying, they came out and showed love. They would text you, know who you are as a person. They truly wanted you as a part of the team.”

As important as family has been to Kelsey his entire life, he wanted the next stage of his development to feel like family as well. That was just the first checklist Kelsey had in his mind.

“My checklist was basketball and hIgh academics, go where I was wanted, the coaching staff wanted me,” Kelsey said. “I want to succeed in academics as well. They saw my strengths, being a good kid and a good basketball player. They saw my IQ, passes I made at my height. They always reached out. They treated me like family from day one, which I really enjoyed that.”  

Kelsey took an unofficial visit at the beginning of the month and instantly fell in love with the school, players and coaching staff. Academics was a big part of his decision and a four plus one program for his computer science major only added to his love for Binghamton.

“It was an easy decision,” Kelsey said. “I laid out things in front of me. It was whatever college covered all the ground. I didn’t stress about it too much.; I went in there with an open mind. Student comes before the athlete. Ball will not bounce when you are older. High academics was a high priority.”

Kelsey is looking forward to what his game will look like in a year. During his visit he was like a sponge trying to soak up as much information as he could.

“My unofficial, I asked, ‘What can I do to be ready?’ Biggest thing they said was physicality. Since AAU finished up it's just taking care of my body. Building strength, staying in shape is the biggest thing,” Kelsey said.”

Now that his decision is out of the way Kelsey can let loose with an explosive senior year. Last season he averaged 10 points, six rebounds and four assists for Westtown. This season he is ready for more.

“It’s a bIg relief off my shoulders,” Kelsey said. “I am very proud of myself. It’s something I have dreamed of since I was a little. Knowing I am committed, I don’t have to worry about it.”