Just A Youngin From Peoria: Kendrick Green

In 2016, I met Kendrick in the most unexpected way. As I was rapping up my senior year at Northwestern High School, I received an email from Aaron Ingram of USA Football. The message was a game-changer: I had been selected to play in an international tournament in Harbin, China, representing the USA.

For two weeks, a group of strangers, who would soon become brothers, embarked on an adventure to a part of the world we never imagined visiting. We played football on the world stage, in front of spectators from every corner of the globe. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

After the tournament, I went on to play football at the University of Maryland, while Kendrick committed to the University of Illinois. Despite being on rival teams, we stayed in touch, meeting annually when our teams played each other.

Kendrick's journey took him to the NFL, where he was drafted by the Steelers and later traded to the Houston Texans. Coincidentally, I had moved to Houston, and our paths crossed once again. This time, we decided to collaborate on a project close to Kendrick’s heart: his football camp in Peoria, Illinois.

Kendrick's pride in his hometown of Peoria is unparalleled. Located two and a half hours from Chicago, Peoria is a small town that Kendrick speaks of as if it were the capital of Illinois. His dedication to making a difference in Peoria is inspiring. Hosting a camp for local kids was crucial to him because he once ran those same streets. He fondly remembers attending Shaun Livingston's camps as a kid—Livingston, a shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors, attended the same high school as Kendrick. This camp felt like a passing of the torch for him.

Our collaboration on the camp in Peoria was more than just an event; it was a testament to the power of community and the impact of giving back. Kendrick's commitment to his roots and his determination to be a positive influence on the next generation is something I deeply admire.