Kennedy Cambridge’s moment almost two years in the making

The older Cambridge talks about returning to the court and playing with her sister.

When Kennedy Cambridge announced she was transferring from Kentucky to Ohio State in May 2023, most didn’t know that it would be a while before Cambridge would actually suit up. As the 2023-24 season began and Cambridge was on the bench, the excitement of an initial transfer announcement turned into waiting. Now, the wait is over and the redshirt sophomore is literally leaving everything on the court.

“I feel like at any time anybody could get injured. So I feel like for myself, I play every game like it’s my last game,” said Cambridge.

Reading a line like that makes some think it’s another phrase athletes use to fill a media availability, but watch Cambridge play and there’s no denying it.

In four games in Scarlet and Gray, Cambridge has already built a highlight reel of moments supporting her claim.

Against Bowling Green, Cambridge started her second game in a row for head coach Kevin McGuff, due to an injury to forward Cotie McMahon. It’s not a like-for-like replacement, with Cambridge playing a third guard position and Taylor Thierry technically sliding into the McMahon role.

Cambridge admits that she doesn’t bring the same scoring mentality as McMahon, but what she lacks in scoring she makes up in tireless movement on the court. The guard never stays still.

Even if it doesn’t end in a turnover, Cambridge doesn’t allow the opposition to easily catch a pass, especially in the backcourt. The guard has eight steals in five appearances this year, including one against the Ohio Bobcats on Wednesday where as her assignment on defense was going up for a layup, Cambridge ripped the ball out of her hands, took possession, and sent a quarterback pass up the court for a fast break basket.

In recent Ohio State history, Cambridge plays a lot like now-pro guard Celeste Taylor. Like Taylor, Cambridge will do anything to disrupt the other side and do it all with a smile on her face.

“It feels fun,” said Cambridge about returning to the game. “You know, at first my first games were a few, it was shaky, but I feel like my coaches have instilled so much confidence in myself. So it’s like I’m finally getting back into myself.”

Overall, Cambridge had 628 days between her final game with the Wildcats in February of 2023 and her first minutes in Scarlet and Gray on Nov. 5. Close to two years without playing the game she loves. The enjoyment it brings Cambridge is clear.

Pay attention to the Buckeyes on social media for a few days and there’s likely Cambridge reinforcing the fun. Either sporting a cowboy hat, bringing a pet to practice, or generally messing with her teammates.

The family built within the walls of Ohio State welcomed Cambridge from the start and in the offseason, it became a more traditional family when her younger sister Jaloni Cambridge joined in on the action.

Part of a basketball-obsessed family, the two Cambridge sisters played together and excelled at Ensworth High School, winning state championships and practicing and playing together nearly every day.

On top of returning to basketball in general, Cambridge is reunited in games that count for the first time in three years.

“It’s a blessing from God every time we stop on the court together,” said the older Cambridge sister. “And I just feel like we love each other and we play for each other. So it’s been fun.”

That steal and football pass against Ohio was to her younger sister. While both Cambridge sisters cause opponents fits on defense, Jaloni is known as the more offensive-minded of the two.

In five games, Jaloni Cambridge averages 17 points a game and leads the team with 4.8 assists. Over the years, when the two sisters were on the court, the connection was usually Kennedy finding Jaloni. That’s until Kennedy stepped into the starting role Wednesday.

On a break, Jaloni sent a behind-the-back pass intended for Kennedy, but it landed at Chance Gray, who was part of the run. Sunday, the two finally connected.

“That’s the first time she gave me the ball and I put it in the hoop,” said Cambridge. “Now she does a good job putting it in the hoop, but that was the first time I did it and it felt magical.”

As Cambridge said those last few words, she let out a sigh and closed her eyes, reliving the moment in her head and basking in the role reversal shown by a pair of sisters who have played more minutes together this week than in the past three years combined.

Both games with Kennedy starting ended in lopsided Ohio State victories. That’s not to say her substitution and McMahon’s injury were the causes of the wins. Both sides were mid-majors who struggled to match the talent and ability of the Scarlet and Gray roster. However, it’s given the Cambridges, and the entire Buckeye roster, the chance to get minutes together and build chemistry as the Big Ten schedule looms large with non-conference games ticking away.

The natural chemistry with the Cambridge sisters is contagious and can’t help but be a positive for the Scarlet and Gray.

It’s not always going to be 40-60-point victories. Far from it, but when there are moments of lapse on the court, which are bound to happen in any sport at any time, how a player reacts is crucial.

In the first quarter, Cambridge had an emphatic block. With Bowling Green guard Paige Kohler finding an empty lane to the basket, Cambridge wasn’t too far behind. As Kohler went up, Cambridge followed and swatted the ball off the sophomore guard and out for a change in possession. What was going through Cambridge’s mind at that point?

“All I could think of was if I got blown past and I got scored on, it was going to be on film. So I had to do something,” said Cambridge.

Cambridge fixed her mistake and had fun doing it.