Kendell Heremaia (Ngati Wai, Ngapuhi, Ngati Hine and Te Arawi) is a 22-year-old kiwi Guard who for the past five seasons, has been playing NCAA Division I basketball at New York’s Fordham University. Kendell talks with Basketball New Zealand about playing for St Peters, her time in the United States and what the future holds for her after Fordham.
Fordham University Women’s Basketball Head Coach, Stephanie Gaitley, knows a thing or two about recruiting student-athletes for college basketball – and New Zealand athletes in particular.
Gaitley’s head coaching career spans over four decades and during that time she has recruited future Tall Fern players including Megan Compain – the only New Zealander to have played in the WNBA – and Mary Goulding, as well as Commonwealth Games medallists Zara Jillings, Chevannah Paalvast and Erin Rooney.
In 2016 Gaitley attended the New Zealand Secondary Schools National Championships in Palmerston North. It was there she says that she first sighted a player who she knew could be a success in the Fordham University Rams programme; St Peter’s School Cambridge star, Kendell Heremaia.
“It seems like only yesterday that I was in New Zealand and spotted Kendell, and I knew she’d be a perfect fit for us,” says Coach Gaitley.
Heremaia had enjoyed a prolific year in 2016, playing on the international stage for the Junior Tall Ferns and with the New Zealand team at the FIBA 3×3 U18 World Championships in Kazakhstan. She was MVP at the U23 National Championships, while also being named to the tournament team as St Peter’s claimed their second consecutive Secondary Schools National Title.
Heremaia rates that St Peter’s title as amongst her favourite basketball memories.
“Winning two years straight and being a part of the first championship winning team at St Peter’s was special.”
She also looks back with fondness her time at Nationals with Nga Taiatea Wharekura – the Hamilton school she attended until Year 11 – in 2014 and 2015, making it to the ‘A’ National Championships twice.
If those years of sport and schooling were a busy time for Kendell, then things were going to get even busier in 2017 with Gaitley convincing her to join the Fordham team.
“We brought Kendell over in January that year and had her ‘redshirt’ (meaning to practice but not play in games) for a semester; she needed that time to help understand the level of commitment necessary to be successful.”
Heremaia says that it was a ‘reasonably straightforward decision’ for her to join Coach Gaitley at Fordham University.
“An obvious attraction was because it was located in New York, only a 20-minute train ride to New York City.
“The other reason was because back when I visited in 2016, the atmosphere amongst the team and coaches was really family-oriented and that was a big priority for me, family is everything to me. When I got here it just felt like something I could get used to pretty quickly.”
A basketball scholarship in the States wasn’t something that Heremaia had thought about until the back end of her high school education.
“I was 17 when I decided to commit to the idea. The college career was brought up with me several times but I wasn’t really interested until 2016, a year before I left school. Mum was my biggest help in the process, she organising everything for me.”
One person who was certain that Heremaia had what it takes to carve out a successful NCAA Division I career was Anthony Corban, Waikato Basketball’s Community Manager.
Corban had coached Heremaia on various Waikato age-group teams, two NZ 3×3 U18 World Cup campaigns and as assistant coach supporting Leanne Walker with the St Peter’s School Premier Basketball team.
“Kendell or ‘Kenny’ has incredible on-court vision, can throw a pass as quick as a bullet and can play that inside/outside game whilst also working on her three-point shooting,” says Corban.
“She is a quiet person by nature, close to her parents and grandparents. Family is a big part of Kenny’s life.
“I commend Kenny on how she has successfully transitioned into the student-athlete lifestyle in the USA. Coach Gaitley and the support staff at Fordham have done an outstanding job helping her to manage the New York lifestyle.”
Coach Gaitley can also step back and reflect on the progress her co-captain has made since she took those first tentative steps back in 2017.
“It’s finally in year five that I can see everything coming together for Kendell. She is a great kid with a great family; her parents have been super supportive of her time here. There have certainly been some ups and downs as Kendell has learned what it takes to compete at a high level,” added Gaitley.
“I am super proud of her both on and off the court. She has scored over 1,000 points, collected individual awards and been a big part of helping us get a Championship in 2019. Even more importantly she is will leave Fordham with two degrees, as she is finishing her Masters.
“The future is so bright for Kendell; she is a talented basketball player but also an incredibly talented artist.”
Heremaia acknowledges the support she has received throughout her time at Fordham, both from those within the University and from family back home.
“It is amazing how much my basketball knowledge has improved, due to the help of several of my upperclassmen and the coaching staff I’ve had while being at Fordham.
“My biggest influence as a sports person are my parents and siblings. We always push each other with whatever sport we follow but basketball will always be our go to sport.
“If I were to just choose one from all, it would have to be my dad. From the very start of my basketball career, Dad has been non-stop on my case every day of my life to this day on how I need to keep advancing my skills. Even now, I still get those good old critical talks after my games,” she mused.
The 22-year-old is unsure where she will be heading after Fordham, with her Master’s in Public Media – with a concentration in Strategic Communication – due to be completed in mid-2022.
“Being here (in New York) for almost five years has been really cool. You have so many options to explore for food, entertainment, attractions and meet-ups etc. Transportation is pretty easy as well, you just have to be careful.
“Looking ahead for basketball, I am looking to get a contract with an overseas team. I am working with my coach now, so that by the time the season ends we can look into that.”
Heremaia played in the Sky Sport Tall Ferns Showcase game at Trusts Arena in 2020 and insists her drive to make the Tall Ferns is still strong.
“Playing for the Tall Ferns has always been one of my big goals and I’m still waiting for that to happen for real. Outside of basketball, I am still deciding on that part; I have a few options but they are not in progress yet.
A talented artist and athlete, a fluent Mãori speaker, a forthcoming Masters and with a supportive whanau, means that the future looks rosy for the quietly determined Kendell Heremaia.
Kendell’s career at a glance:
Prior to Fordham:
- 2013; Played for Nga Taiatea Wharekura at ‘A’ Secondary Schools Nationals as a Year 10
- 2014; Named Senior Sportswoman of the Year; Named to Tournament Team at ‘A’ Secondary Schools Nationals.
- 2015; Played for NZ at the FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup
- Waikato win the U17 National Championships – named Tournament MVP
- St Peter’s School win ‘AA Secondary Schools National Championship.
- 2016; Played for NZ at the FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup
- Waikato win the U23 National Championship – named Tournament MVP
- Waikato Runners-up at U19 National Championship
- St Peter’s School win ‘AA’ Secondary Schools National Championship – named to Tournament Team
Career at Fordham:
- 2017-18; As a Freshman, played all 33 games she was available for. Named to the Atlantic-10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
- 2018-19; As a Sophomore, played all 34 games (33 as a starter), helping Fordham to win the Atlantic-10 Conference championship.
- 2019-20; As team captain, played all 32 games before the season was cut short due to the Covid pandemic. Led the team in assists (87) and steals (46).
- 2020-21; As a Senior, played all 18 contests in a Covid-shortened season. Named to the Atlantic-10 Second Team after averaging 12.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Named to the Atlantic-10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
- 2021-22; Recently became the 23rd player all-time to score 1,000 points for Fordham and the 13th New Zealand woman to score over 1,000 NCAA Division I points.
Footnote:
Kendell has started all 7 games for Fordham so far this season tallying 76 points, 36 rebounds and a team high 17 assists. Those 7 appearances take Kendell to 124 career games, now eighth on the NZ Women’s all-time list for NCAA Division I games played. She also sits 12th on the all-time scoring list, having amassed 1,050 career points.
