LINDEN — Kelby Harwood took the term “what have you done recently” to new heights.
The North Montgomery senior “only” led his Chargers team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
The points and rebounds averages were also best in the Sagamore Conference.
He joined the 1,000-point club during the season, and finished with the fourth-most career points ever scored by a North player, and sits 17th overall in the storied history of Montgomery County scorers with 1,179 points.
For his work this season, he has been named the Journal Review Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
And all this after being named the Football Player of the Year not that long ago.
It is a rare back-to-back. Very few student-athletes have been named Player of the Year in multiple sports in the same school year.
The senior took it all in stride, as he moved seamlessly from the gridiron to the hardwood.
He was also quick to spread the credit around, noting coaches, teammates, friends and family.
“My biggest inspiration and influence has been my dad,” he said. “He has been my coach and my biggest fan for 14 years. He showed me the love, he taught me many moves and most important he taught me how to be tough and that’s what I think helped me out the most. He taught me that you don’t let someone take you out of the game — be dominant!!!”
“My dad, Casey, and mom, Heather, were always there, supporting me every step and every minute,” he added. “All the miles, all the minutes spent, and especially all the good meals.”
As noted, Harwood stood at the top of the final Sagamore Conference tote board with 19.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. That got him a spot on the all-conference first team.
His 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals were team-best.
“Kelby was just simply great for us,” Chargers coach Chad Arnold said. “Every other team had to worry about him, and double-teamed him regularly. On top of all that, he is poised and so coachable, and a great leader. The other players all looked up to him. We knew we had to get the ball in his hands, but he was quick to find others and led us in assists.”
Arnold pointed out that Harwood walked away from shooting many three-pointers this season, and that it led to finding his groove from mid-range.
“He is so big and strong and athletic,” Arnold said. “He created shots on the drive, attacked the rim, pulled up from mid-range, and his scoring went way up.”
Harwood’s 19.7 scoring mark as a senior was almost seven points better than his junior year.
There were plenty of thanks going around from the senior, who is committed to Wabash and will be playing football for the Little Giants.
“Among the first people I want to thank are the other seniors on the team, but especially Cameron Enlow,” he said. “We have been on the same team since second grade and it has been so much fun growing up and playing basketball for that long together.”
The coaches also got props.
“I want to thank all the coaches; Arnold, (Marcus) Granger, (Brandon) Hutson, (Nick) Johnson, and (Tom) Lutz,” he said. “I also have to give a special thank you for coach Hutty for everyday rebounding for me for 20 minutes while I worked on free throws and mid-range jump shots. He really helped me develop a more consistent shot.”
While earning the Player of the Year award, there are some awfully good career details.
He was three-time First Team All-Sagamore Conference, made the Sugar Creek All-Tourney Team, was IBCA Player of the Week once, and was named to all-area teams by the Lafayette Journal Courier three different seasons. All capping off being a starter for four seasons.
“I’ve known Kelby since he was a little kid,” noted North Athletic Director Matt Merica. “I have really enjoyed watching him grow into a young adult and work to achieve these honors in athletics. All of us at North Montgomery are very proud of him and all that he has done, and wish him all the success possible at Wabash.”
“This was his team,” Arnold said. “He worked so hard and always did whatever he was asked to do. He scored 20 points lots of times, or he rebounded like crazy, or passed the ball. He was also so mature, and showed the younger players what to do. He was a great role model. It was always about us winning, and never about him.”
Along with the teammates and coaches, there are friends who made a big difference.
“A few people outside the general team I want to thank is Neal Jeffery, Beckett Martin, and Cooper Walters,” Harwood said. “They have been my best friends from day one and supported me in my final season and I believe they only missed 1-2 games which meant a lot. I also want to thank my girlfriend Macee Norman. She would always go in late nights and shoot since she has a key to the school. She always asked if I wanted to go and that meant a lot to me and helped me get better!”
The job of role model was not missed either.
“I really enjoyed all the little kids that looked up to me” he said. “It was very cool to see them because I remember doing the same thing to guys like Grant Gayler, Owen Randolph, Devon Zachary, Baylee Adams, and Alex Parsons. It was a full circle moment for sure.”
From football Kelby to hardwood Harwood, it has been quite a senior season for this senior.
Not one, but a pair of Player of the Year awards.
Not one, but two proud sets of coaches.
One proud school, one set of proud parents, cherishing lifetime memories.
Of a school year that is truly one of a kind.
