Our new student profile feature highlights student life
By Dave Conard, Sports Editor KennettTimes.com
Kennett junior Maalik Rochester has been a force thus far the season.
KENNETT SQUARE — In our new feature at the Kennett Times, The Blue Demon Files, we will be highlighting a worthy student for his/ her accomplishments in the classroom as well as their exploits on an athletic, academic, dramatic or musical stage.
Our new bi-weekly feature will help you get to know the person behind, the mask, music or numbers and hopefully will be something that our readers will look forward to seeing.
Please fell free to comment or let us know about a Kennett student that warrants a Blue Demon File on them as we thrive on reader feedback to continue to grow and improve our coverage of the Kennett school district.
When arriving a Kennett basketball game, it’s pretty easy to spot junior Maalik Rochester, he is usually the one either hanging from the rim or launching bombs from 22 feet away.
Rochester, along with young gun freshman Vaughn Jenkins have helped the Blue Demons storm out of the gates to a 7-2 record thus far with the six-foot-three, sixteen year old averaging 15 points a game which usually includes enough cleaning of the glass to make Charles Barkley proud along with several “Sports center” moments each game.
“Maalik is Maalik,” said Kennett head coach Mike Fergus. “He is a special player and just what he does, he works relentlessly and the sky is the limit if he continues to stay focused. It is exciting to have a young player like that with so much ability to coach, he is string inside yet can step out and hit the three as well, having those options, really helps us as a team.”
When not on the court terrorizing Ches-Mont opponent’s defenses, Rochester loves to hang out and play with his cousins, Julian (age eight) and Jonathan (age three.
Our Blue Demon Files six pack of info, the six questions we had to ask Mr. Rochester. –
If we tapped into your I-Pod before a game or hanging out what kind of music would we here?
“I love R & B, I listen to a lot of artists, but it would definitely be R&B before or after the game.”
Who has been your biggest influence and how have they impacted who you are today?
“That’s easy Dean Lee. He has taught me about respecting people and always told me to “Never take a day off” and I have really used that as a motto. My mom has always supported me in everything I do, you have to have that kind of support if you want to be successful.”
What is the one thing that defines you on and off the court?
“My work ethic, I want to be the one that other guys look to and say, “He’s the one that I use as an example, I want to work as hard as him.” I want to be sure that I don’t take anything for granted and always work the hardest to improve my game.”
Even Superman has a weakness, what is yours or what do you want to improve on?
“I want to spend more time helping others. It is important to not only improve my self, but to help other kids improve or help those with special needs.”
What goals have you set for yourself if any?
“I want to score a double-double every game, the points are a big part of the game but having ten assists or ten boards means that I helped the team to try to achieve our goals of a win. We also want to qualify for districts or even states as a team.”
If you could play three-on-three basketball with any one who would it be?
“Hmmmmm, any two? Ok, LeBron James, because he has had pressure on him since he was a teenager and he has always rose to the occasion. The second would be Kevin Durant just because he is the best player in the NBA and it would be awesome to play with him and get to learn from him.”
