Trading in the pigskin for glory
Basketball star played football first
By ARPON BASU, Freelance July 7, 2010
Khem Birch heads for the hoop for Canada against a strong U. S. team at the FIBA Americas U-18 Men?s championships.
Photograph by: San Antonio Sports/USA Basketbal
Khem Birch was practically born to play basketball, which may explain why he hated it so much.
As a kid growing up in Pierrefonds, Birch took a liking to football, his long frame making him an ideal target as a wide receiver.
But finally, after ignoring what appeared to be his destiny for as long as he could, Birch decided four years ago to switch to the round ball.
"I used to hate basketball," Birch said. "I thought I was going to play football my whole life. I was just better at basketball."
At 6-foot-9 and freakishly athletic, Birch, 17, is the third-rated prospect in the U.S. on ESPN's class of 2012 recruiting list as he prepares to enter his junior year at Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts. Considered the top shot blocker in his class, Birch is "a highlight dunk waiting to happen," says ESPN Recruiting director Paul Biancardi.
Birch has seven big-time NCAA Division-1 programs who have already offered him a scholarship for the 2012-13 school year -
Ohio State, West Virginia, Iowa, Pitt, Texas, Arizona and Providence -with more undoubtedly to come.
