r r
10 • s 'IiHE.ffi\TTMiIQN
Wednesday • January 18, 1995
Multi-talented Kessel grows to fill big shoes
□ Versatile freshman guard
lows he has what it takes
take over the point.
Robert Rbdriguez
"he Battalion
Replacing one the best players to ever don an Ag
gie basketball jersey is not an easy task for anyone,
especially for a freshman. However, Kyle Kessel is
not your average freshman.
Kessel, a product out of Mundelein High School in
Mundelein, Illinois, holds the in
evitable task of replacing David
Edwards at the point guard posi
tion. Not only does he have some
big shoes to fill by replacing Ed
wards, but also Playboy Magazine
believes Kessel is A&M coach
Tony Barone’s star of the future.
Kessel feels confident that he can
handle these pressures placed
upon him.
“I just try to take it one game at a
time,” Kessel said, “and do the
best Lean.”
Kessel is only the second freshman point guard in
A&M history to start the first 15 games of his career.
At the beginning of this season, Kessel struggled to
adjust to the collegiate leveL However, with each
passing game; Kessel has shown improvement,, in
cluding scoring, a career-high 19 points in a win over
Holy Cross, and then dishing out 11 assists in a win
over LoyolaiMarymount.
Kessers 4.& assist average ranks him sixth in the
conference and, he is fourth on the team in scoring.
Kessel
He feels the progress he’s
made can be attributed
to one thing.
“Experience is the rea
son for this improve
ment,” explains Kessel.
“My first college game, I
was kind of excited and
nervous. I just had to get
into a couple of games
and my game got better.”
Not only has Kessel
improved with each
game, but he also has
been calm under pres
sure. He made six
straight free throws in
the final two minutes to
seal a victory over South
western Louisiana on
December 5. Barone
knows it will take some
time for Kessel to adjust
to the pressures placed
upon him, but he be
lieves Kessel has what it
takes to perform well.
“Kyle has done well
this season with all the
attention,” Barone said.
“He’s still learning but
he’s been playing well.”
The coaching staff is
not the only group who
seems to have confidence
in Kessel. Kessel feels he
has the respect of his
teammates and is looking
for more from other
Stew Milne/THE Battalion
Kessel
•“3 Raqueiball iGourts
•" Z Tennis Courts
•Basketball
•‘Volleyball.
•‘Certified Instructors
•'Five Studios Over
6000 sq; ft.
• Over 100 Classes
Weekly
♦Water Aerobics
•• STEP Classes
•■ 1/10 mile Indoor Track
• Olympic Free Weights
• Eagle/Cybex Circuit
• Qualified Trainers
• New Weight Room
•VersaClimber
• StairMasters
•Treadmills
AQUATICS
1 8 Lane, 25 Yard Pool
1 Indoor, Heated
New Year’s Resolution Special
BRYAN
1900 W. VILLA MARIA
0234971
GALL FOR MORE INFO.
COLLEGE STATION
2220 S. TEXAS AVE.
6934073
(AEROBICS ONLY)
• OPEN 7 BAYS A. WEEK°
-MONDAY-THORSDAY, 3:30AM • I2AM •
*Some restrictions may apply.
$10 OFF
*Good thru Feb. 15, 1995.
Not valid with any other offer.
Kyle Kessel attempts to inbound a pass against the Rice Owl press,
scored 6 points against the Owls in last night’s action.
teams. “There have been times when my teammates
have looked to give me the ball, which shows me I
have their respect,” Kessel said. “As each game pass
es, I think I will get more and more respect from oth
er people.”
Kessel was a two time all-state pick in Illinois and
was named area player of the year by the Chicago
Daily Herald in his senior year. Kessel finished his
high school career with the second highest career as
sists total in Illinois prep history and is 10th on the
all-time state list in points scored.
However, basketball was not the only sport in
which Kessel excels. He was drafted by the New York
Mets in the 50th round of last year’s amateur base
ball draft as a pitcher. Kessel signed with the Mets
and will be assigned to their Port St. Lucie farm
team in Florida this summer.
Because of his professional contract, the NCAA
forbids Kessel from playing baseball for the Aggie
baseball team. However, a clause in his contract stat
ed the Mets will provide for his college education at
any school he would like to attend.
This basketball-baseball trial Kessel is perform
ing was popularized by Duke freshman guard Trajan
Langdon, who plays for the San Diego Padres organi
zation during the summer. Kessel could have chosen
other prominent basketball schools such as George
town or New Orleans, but said he could not pass up
at the opportunity to play for A&M.
“I could have gone to those other schools, but I
saw a good opportunity to come and play here at
Texas A&M,” Kessel said. “I like Coach Barone and
the style of play here.”
The real test for Kessel will come when conference
play kicks into full gear. In order for the team to con
tend for the Southwest Conference title, Kessel be
lieves attitude, motivation, and execution must be
present in A&M’s arsenal.
“As a team, we have to just play with enthusiasm
and play hard,” Kessel said. “Personally, I have to run
this team. My job is to hit the open shot, find the open
man, and play good defense.”
“ I’m not into stats, but if you keep on winning,
that’s a reflection of the point guard,” he later said.
“That is my personal goal this year, to just keep the
team winning.”
any semester
membership!*