No. 5 Tiwian Kendley
Junior Guard, Basketball
Harlem, N.Y.
Major: Family & Consumer Sciences

Morgan State men's basketball player Tiwian Kendley, a transfer from Lamar Community College, has quickly emerged as not only the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's leading scorer, but he also ranks among the top scorers in the nation.

The Harlem (N.Y.) native is leading the conference by averaging 22.9 points per game and currently ranks No. 12 in scoring in the nation. He's also averaging 6.1 rebounds and is shooting a league-best 87 percent from the free throw line, while averaging 32.4 minutes per contest.  The 6-foot-5 guard has scored in double-figures in every game, with five games of 20 or more points and three game with nine or more rebounds. He was recently named the MEAC's co-Player of the Week after scoring a season-high 40 points (T-4th highest in the nation) with nine rebounds to lead the Bears to an 85-82 2OT victory against the Manhattan Jaspers on Dec. 6. It was the second time he's been named player of the week this season.

Kendley and the Bears' next matchup will be in University Park, Pennsylvania when they face the Penn State Nittany Lions next Wednesday, December 21.

Student Life:
What is the best time of the year on campus? The best time of the year is winter because basketball season is about to begin.
Why did you choose MSU? I chose MSU because of how long Coach Bozeman was recruiting me. I wanted to stay loyal because I knew he had something planned for me.
What is your major and why? Right now I am majoring in FACS (Family & Consumer Sciences) dealing with sports nutrition.
Favorite Professor and why? Elizabeth Gunn is my favorite professor because she doesn't have any problems working with students one-on-one to help them understand the curriculum.
If you had to give an incoming student advice, what would it be? My advice would be to come in and work hard early, so in a couple of years they can relax a little.
Describe your first day as a student at Morgan.  My first day was fairly simple, but the most confusion I had was finding classes.
What do you like most about Morgan? I like how everybody loves their HBCU.  
What would you like to change at Morgan State? I wouldn't change anything but the Refac food.

Pop Culture:
What social media do you prefer the most? I prefer Instagram.
Would you rather read the book or watch the movie? Why? I would rather watch a movie, because I can comprehend the movie by seeing it then just by reading it.
 What song can you not help but sing-a-long to? A Boogie Jungle
Who is your celebrity crush? Christina Milian
Favorite TV Show? Narcos
Favorite Movie? Space Jam
Favorite Celebrity? LeBron James
My favorite cartoon or children's show as a child was… Static Shock
If you could switch lives with any celebrity, who would it be and why? Floyd Mayweather, because his work ethic in and outside the ring. He's shown that hard work definitely pays off.
Favorite music genre? Hip hop and reggae

Travel:
Most interesting place you've visited? Canada
Place you would like to visit? Bora Bora

Food:
Favorite home cooked meal? Curry chicken, white rice, mac & cheese and plantains
Favorite snack? Honey Buns
I hated it when my mom made me eat? Peas
Favorite breakfast cereal as a kid? Fruity Pebbles
 
Sports:
When is your favorite time of your sports season? My favorite time is conference play.
Who is your favorite athlete? Why? LeBron James because of his passion for the game of basketball.
Who do you model your game after? Why? I model my game after LeBron James when he was young, and because he was always on the attack.
Which team do you most look forward to competing against?  Howard University
Do you have any pre-game/match superstitions or rituals? No
What is your favorite part about your sport? My favorite part about basketball is that I get to showcase my talent around the world and compete.
If you could play another position, what would it be and why? I would play point guard because there are not that many tall point guards. It would also help with my vision and slowing the game down for me.
What is your favorite athletic memory? When I had a dunk in the state championship game in high school.
Favorite pro sports team? The New York Knicks
What is your top skill? Attacking the rim
When did you start playing basketball? I started playing officially when I was in the 6^th grade.

Miscellaneous:
Would you rather be rich or famous and why? I would rather be rich, because being focused on fame makes you lose focus on how to get rich.
If you could do one thing over, what would it be? Make better decisions
When you are not at practice, what could someone find you doing? Either eating or doing work or in the gym getting extra shots up.
If could play another sport, what would it be? Football
What do you look forward to doing during the summer? Working out and getting ready for another year of basketball  
If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower? Flying and teleportation
Do you have an interesting nickname? Ty
What is one thing people don't know about you? I love dirt bikes
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? When my godfather told me not to rush anything, block people out and my time would come for basketball.
If you could witness any event of the past, present, or future, what would it be? It would be watching the Cleveland Cavaliers win the NBA Finals in person.
If I could change one thing about myself, it would be…  Just generally being a better person in life.
What are your goals in life? My goals are to hopefully play professional basketball, and if that doesn't work to one day be a coach.
Person you admire the most? My mom
Coolest thing you did this summer? Went to Canada and played basketball
Most prized possession? My state championship ring
If you could have dinner with three people, dead or alive, who would they be? My god-sister, LeBron James and Barack Obama
Dream event? Playing in the NBA
Cats or dogs? Dogs
Early bird or night owl? I'm from the city that never sleeps, so of course night owl
Funniest person on the team? Antonio Gillespie