Kidwell healthy and ready to make his mark

    You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more eager to start the high school basketball season than Wildcat junior Braydon Kidwell. Sidelined last year due to a torn ACL that required surgery, the three-point specialist is now ready to be a key contributor to his team.
    Kidwell sustained his injury in Oct. 2019, roughly one month prior to the start of the regular season, and was delegated to merely a spectator as he worked his way through several grueling months of rehabilitation needed to return to the hardwood. Initially, he admits that it was very difficult to not be able to be on the court with his teammates, but he remained focused on the goal to be ready for his junior season.
    “It has been hard not being out there last year, and I couldn’t have gotten through everything without the support from my parents, Mark Kidwell and Joy O’Brien and stepmom, Lauren Kidwell,” he said.
    Braydon says there were many long car rides to and from games last season that allowed him to have beneficial talks with his family, and that helped keep his spirits up.
    Also playing a role in his recovery was current Kentucky Wildcat and Mr. Basketball award winner Dontaie Allen. Kidwell explained that Allen provided helpful insight to what he would be dealing with during his road back to full health as he went through the same injury one year earlier.
    “Dontaie was there for me quite a bit during my rehab. He gave me all kinds of good advice and tips with different exercises that would help during the recovery process,” Kidwell explained.
    In the Wildcats season opener at Bellevue on Jan. 5, Kidwell made his presence known right away as he swished a pair of first quarter three-pointers on his way to a team-high 17 points to help Pendleton County pick up the win.
    “It felt so great just to be out there playing again. Once I made my first shot, I could feel a sense of relief and was able to let the game come to me and do the things to help us win.”
    Pendleton County head coach Sam Elsbernd knows that Kidwell’s return will give his squad a consistent outside shooting presence that it lacked a season ago. And the determination he showed to make a full recovery from his injury serves as an inspiration to his teammates.
    “Having Braydon available to us changes the way we can play offense. He’s our best shooter and he’s always looking to improve his game in other ways as well. There isn’t anyone on our roster who outworks Braydon,” said Elsbernd.
    Now healthy and mentally stronger than ever, Kidwell looks forward to making the most of every game he has remaining as a Wildcat.