Kiran Durant: A Ticking Time Bomb

<div>In a junior class stacked with high volume scorers, Grafton junior Kiran Durant’s name doesn’t come up as much as some of the higher profiled recruits. However, if you ask any opposing coach about him, they all have the same reaction.</div><div> </div> <div>“He’s one of the better scoring guards in the area,” Kempsville Coach Taft Hickman said at the Hampton Roads Fall League last Thursday.</div> <div> </div> <div>While Durant was sidelined with a thumb injury that will keep him out until early November, he’s already made his impact felt with multiple 30 point games this fall. He displayed some of his scoring prowess last season for Grafton, but was overshadowed at times by fellow backcourt stud Cle’Von Greene, who has since moved on to Williamsburg Christian.</div> <div> </div> <div>That move makes Durant the go-to guy for Grafton this season, and much like the NBA star who shares a name with him, he’s more than up for the challenge.</div> <div> </div> <div>“I feel like I’m ready to accept a higher role,” Durant said. “With Cle’Von gone, it should free me up to handle the ball and score more.”</div> <div> </div> <div>A classic go-getter type of player, Durant is a phenomenal three level scorer who can create his own shot in isolation situations. The 6’2 combo guard has a good physique and is adept at finishing through contact, which he’ll have to because teams are going to play very physical with him. </div> <div> </div> <div>While he knows he’s got to step up and fill the void after Greene’s departure, Durant is not an overly selfish player. While he’s aware he has to set the tone as the primary scorer, he insists that the team philosophy is the same as the year before.</div> <div> </div> <div>“Coach Jordan makes sure we play a team game no matter who is on the floor,” he said. “I don’t think things will change much, I just think a couple guys will have to step up more.”</div> <div> </div> <div>It starts with Durant, who worked on his game all summer playing with Boo Williams 16U team. The sharpshooter has put emphasis on creating space off the dribble, and has also worked on leading on the defensive end too. He wants to show coaches that he’s an all around player capable of doing it all.</div> <div> </div> <div>“I’ve had a few division two coaches reach out to me, and a couple of assist division one coaches have scheduled trips to see me work out,” Durant said. “I want to show them that I have grown as a point guard and my scoring ability has increased, and that I’m a pretty solid defender as well.”</div> <div> </div> <div>Durant knows that with solid play and a winning program, coaches will start to look at him as much as some of the other guards in the Hampton Roads area.</div> <div> </div> <div>“First and foremost I care about winning. Individually, I am striving to be Bay Rivers Player of the Year and make one of the all state teams. Hopefully with a solid season like that, I can get more schools interested.”</div> <div> </div> <div>One thing’s for certain, he will be keeping a lot of opposing coaches up at night wondering how to stop him.</div>