Franklin second consecutive Cedar Creek player to earn district MVP award
- Jim Irish
- Mar 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 16
By Jim Irish
Photos by Dustyn Werner
Kenji Franklin has the ability to shoot the three-pointer or drive the lane for a layup or dunk. On defense, he excels at rebounding and blocking shots.
The Cedar Creek senior is a physical specimen at 6-foot-6, 210 pounds and possesses the entire basketball package.
"(He's) a dynamic player."
-- Bastrop coach Eric Woods speaking about Franklin
The coaches in District 24-5A were impressed as well. Franklin was recently selected as the district MVP, garnering four votes to two for McCallum’s George McCoy.
After a district loss to Cedar Creek, Bastrop coach Eric Woods called Franklin "a dynamic player.”
A Cedar Creek athlete has earned the MVP award for the second consecutive year. Last season, Robert Conrad, currently playing for Trinity University of San Antonio, took the award.
Despite missing about 16 games because of injuries, Franklin, a four-year starter, broke Conrad’s career scoring record and finished with 2,082 points.
In district, Franklin, a swingman, averaged 19.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks a game.
"He had a good senior year,” Cedar Creek coach Chris Young said. "He’s such a good kid.
"There were times when I thought he should have been a little more selfish."
-- Cedar Creek coach Chris Young
”There were times when I thought he should have been a little more selfish. Most of the time, he’s making the right play. He’s a good teammate.”
Cedar Creek finished 9-3 in district and then lost to Weiss 51-41 in the playoffs. Franklin struggled on offense against 6-6 Mekhai Bryant and 6-7 Blake Wilson. He earned a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds but was well below his scoring average.
Bryant, a college prospect, primarily guarded Franklin with assistance inside from Wilson. If he managed to move past Bryant, which wasn’t simple, he had to contend with Wilson.
Wilson was "roaming in the paint and could jump,” Young said.
Franklin was also selected to the All-Region III squad.
Cedar Creek ended the season with a 20-15 record, its second consecutive season with at least 20 wins.
Blinn recruiting Franklin
Blinn College, a community college, has been eagerly recruiting Franklin. Next week, Franklin takes his second visit to the college.
Young said Franklin has to improve to be a factor at the next level.
"He needs to get stronger,” he said. "Everyone is stronger at that level. He needs to be more consistent as a three-point shooter. (He) has to trust his mid-range game (from 8 feet to 16 feet). You’re not going to be able to get to the rim every time. You’ve got to be able to hit that mid-range shot. If he can do those things, that will really open up his game.”
Cedar Creek’s Phineas Koplin, a 6-2 senior, was selected to the first team. In district, Koplin averaged 14.2 points and 2.8 rebounds a game. He completed his career with more than 1,000 points.
Braydon Adams was chosen to the second team. He averaged 7.3 points and 4.0 assists a game in district.
Jim Irish is a freelance writer in Bastrop, Texas
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