Kennedy to Host Basketball Tournament in Honor of Blair Coach's Father

Blair Basketball Coach Mark Destefano grew up on his father's basketball courts, but basketball was far from the only thing he learned.

Mark Destefano has often talked of the importance of instilling in his athletes that basketball teaches physical and mental skills beyond the sport, but the idea didn't spring up in him out of nowhere. He learned it from his late father, former Kennedy Basketball Coach Al Destefano, whose legacy will be honored Dec. 28 and 29 with the Al Destefano Classic, a holiday basketball tournament at Kennedy High School. 

"I learned from him that the game is not the almighty thing," said Mark Destefano. "It's going to be very humbling playing in a tournament named after my father."

Al Destefano started coaching while he was a young teacher at Archbishop Carroll High School in D.C. as a way to make some extra money, and the passion became a family affair. He got his younger brother Paul, now a coach at St. John's in the District, a job as a team trainer at Carroll.

Al Destefano came to Kennedy in the mid 70s and coached many winning seasons including the 1989 season when the team won the regional title and counted 20 regular season wins. Current Kennedy Coach Diallo Nelson played under Al Destefano on that title-winning team.

He died of a heart attack over spring break in 2006.

"The kids came back and heard the news. There was an outpouring from school," Mark Destefano said. "As I'm raising my own family, I want to educate them on what their grandfather was. There's not a day that goes by that someone doesn't have something to say about my father."

Kennedy Athletic Director Ken Cudd has wanted to put a tribute tournament on for several years.

"Al was a good man who coached here for a number of years and this is one more way we can tie our communities together," Cudd said.

For Cudd, the tournament is not only a chance to bring together the Blair and Kennedy communities to remember Al Destefano, it's a chance for the players to have some fun.

"I am hoping for a good time where we can all get together and compete and stay sharp," Cudd said. "The holiday tournaments are low-pressure entertainment. The kids get a chance to be with their friends and it breaks up the week without school. It also gives us all a chance to get together."

Stay tuned to Patch for complete coverage of the tournament.

Schedule: 

TODAY, Dec. 28:

- Blair vs. Seneca Valley at 1 p.m.
- Kennedy vs. School Without Walls at 3 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29:

- Consolation game at 1 p.m.
- Championship game at 3 p.m.

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