KENT, Conn. — South Kent School prep basketball remained undefeated at home this season following a late victory over Darrow School Wednesday, Jan. 8.
South Kent’s team is under new leadership this year with head coach Craig Carter, who succeeded Raphael Chillious at the start of the 2024-25 season. Chillious took an NBA job with the Memphis Grizzlies.
With a travel-heavy schedule to start the year, Carter has led South Kent to a 4-0 record at home and maintained a 4-4 record on the road thus far.
South Kent’s roster includes four-star recruit, Badara Diakite, a 6’8” wing forward out of Mali, Africa. ESPN ranks Diakite as the second-best high school player in Connecticut and in the top 100 nationwide. He has committed to play NCAA ball at The University of Iowa next year.
The Cardinals, from South Kent, and Ducks, from New Lebanon, NY, should have been birds of a feather, but the opposite was true in a tightly fought game Jan. 8.
First half scoring was modest for both teams—lots of shots, but very few baskets. With only six minutes left in the first half, the Darrow Ducks had a slight lead, 17-14.
In the second half scoring improved with the Ducks establishing a 10-point lead with 10 minutes remaining. South Kent battled back and cut Darrow’s lead to three-points with the score at 57-54 and four minutes to go.
South Kent’s Adam Chiacchia and Diakite came through in a thrilling finish. With 30 seconds left, Chiacchia cut the lead to one-point. Diakite finished the job on the next possession with a go-ahead dunk to take the lead. A follow-up free throw from Diakite sealed the game and South Kent won 69-67.
Story courtesy of the Lakeville Journal.
