TOKYO (5/23/13) – Former University of Detroit Mercy star Thomas Kennedy '10 recently helped lead the Yokohama B-Corsairs to their first-ever Basketball Japan League (BJ League) title with a 101-90 win over the Rizing Fukuoka at the Ariake Coliseum.

Kennedy, who was named the Robert Calihan Most Valuable Player as well as earning the Frank R. Gerbig Sr. Sportsmanship Award following his senior year at UDM, finished with 11 points and eight rebounds in the title game. Nothing seemed to be larger than his three-pointer to make the score 75-64 as chants of “Yokohama, let's go!” reverberated through the building.

“I'm really happy for Thomas who had an outstanding career for us here at Detroit. He was a foundation player to where this program is now and the success it's had,” stated UDM head coach Ray McCallum. “It was really great to talk with him after winning the championship and the role that he's played as he looks forward to becoming one of the top players in Japan basketball.” 

Kennedy finished second on the B-Corsairs in scoring and rebounds with 18.6 points, 7.0 rebounds per game in the regular season, while averaging 15.5 points and 6.2 rebounds in the postseason. He scored a season-high 37 points against the Saitama Broncos in the regular season and dropped in 30 points against the Toyama Grouses in the quarterfinals. He also recorded eight double-doubles on the season, including a 32-point, 11 rebound outing against the Oita Heat Devils.