He came to Lipscomb because on his first visit he loved “the atmosphere” of the school. Four years later it seemed ironic, because few student-athletes in their time on campus created more excitement in the atmosphere than Kenyatta Perry. Before his November 11 induction into the Lipscomb Athletics Hall of Fame, he spent a few minutes this week with lipscombsports.com.
When did you compete for Lipscomb?
I played basketball for the legendary Coach Don Meyer from 1993–97. We had great assistant coaches while I was there too: Coach Ralph Turner, Coach Mike Roller, Coach Jason Shelton, and Coach John Hudy. I earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Education degree in 2007.
Why did you attend Lipscomb?
Lipscomb was one of the first schools to really start recruiting me out of high school. I visited the campus and attended a game, and I loved the atmosphere of the school. I thought the style of basketball that they played was exciting and fast-paced and would be fun to be a part of. It didn't hurt that one of my former high school teammates (Andy McQueen) was there, and my backcourt mate in high school (Andy Blackston) was going to attend Lipscomb too. I loved the fact that my family would get to see me play because it wasn't too far from home. Lipscomb, more importantly, would provide me an opportunity to receive a high-quality education in a Christian environment that would allow me to be successful after basketball.
What is your favorite athletic memory at Lipscomb?
There are so many great memories that I have from Lipscomb, it’s tough to narrow it down. At the top of the list is just being around team/family on road trips, locker rooms, study hall, etc. You spend so much time with these people, you begin to think of them as your family. I LOVED working camp! I didn’t love getting up at 5:30 in the morning, but all of the other joys of camp are great memories. I remember the night John Pierce broke the college basketball scoring record. I was lucky enough to have been on the floor at that time, and I’ll never forget it. I remember Andy McQueen breaking the 3-pointers-made record, and it was incredible. I remember my best friend’s dad, Jimmy Thomas, came to a game against Birmingham Southern and asked at halftime, "Can I get a dunk?" I got the chance not long after that and dunked one for him. And I remember playing on a team that was "rebuilding" that survived all the way to the NAIA Final Four.
Who influenced your athletic career at Lipscomb?
My parents had the greatest influence on my athletic career. I know there were several times in my career that I persevered only because of them – I couldn't let them down. Coach Meyer also had a big impact on my athletic career. He coached us hard, not only to make us better players, but also better men. Coach Roller and Coach Shelton were very influential as well. They all pushed me to do more, to be better than I was the day before.
What’s your favorite non-athletic memory from your time here?
Being able to sit with Ms. Barb (Basketball administrative assistant Barbara Anderson) between classes at Holman House and voting on the Showcase Showdown on The Price is Right. I also got the opportunity to go on a couple of recruiting trips with Coach Meyer and Coach Shelton. I remember going to Hazel Green, Alabama and help recruit Jammie Turner, who became one of my best friends. The most important memory would be meeting an Athletic Trainer at Lipscomb who would eventually become my wife. There was a very good reason I kept getting hurt.
What did you learn in your time at Lipscomb?
- Set goals, both short-term and long-term.
- Plan your time wisely.
- Be nice to everyone – always say "please” and “thank you."
- Hard work pays off.
- Never quit trying to improve.
- Learn something new every day.
- Leave a place better than you found it. (Everyone picks up trash)
Who were your favorite professors?
My favorite professor was Dr. Trish Hodgson Carruth. I'm not sure if I could have asked for a better advisor and mentor. She taught me, motivated me, and believed in me. She was GREAT! Dr. Lynn Griffith and Dr. Kent Johnson were also two of my favorites.
What do you do now?
I teach Health and Physical Education at East Robertson High School, and I also coach girl’s basketball.
Tell us about your family
I've been married now for 14 years. My wife, a Lipscomb and Vanderbilt graduate, is a Nurse Practitioner at Skyline Hospital. We have two great kids – our daughter Kylie (13) is an 8th grader, and our son Kayden (10) is a 5th grader. They keep us busy!
FAST FIVE FINISH
- Favorite food: Lasagna
- Favorite scripture: Philipians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”
- Favorite TV show: NCIS: Criminal Minds
- Favorite sports teams: North Carolina Tar Heels, Chicago Bears, N.Y. Mets
- Early morning or late night person? Definitely late night person
You can connect with Kenyatta by email: kenyatta.perry@rcstn.net; Facebook: Kenyatta Perry and Twitter: KenyattaPerry2
