KK BEST - EAST WEST TEAM

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on March 13, 2016 1:47 AM

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Throw out the stats.

KK Best doesn't care about seeing them or hearing about them.

The multi-talented Eastern Wayne senior was selected for the N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star football game in Greensboro later this summer.

Hard work, talent and humility are welcome.

"Honestly, I've never looked at my stats," Best said. "I was never a stats kind of player. Honestly, if my stats had to come into play, it was never just me. We (Warriors) had a lot of good blocking, we had a lot players that forced plays and they made plays happen.

I didn't ever do anything by myself. A lot of time you could be the one carrying the ball, but you didn't get that last extra yard. That's why I never looked at my individual stats."

Best learned about his All-Star selection on Feb. 23, and his smile lasted the entire day -- even while he played basketball for the Warriors. He says he didn't believe it until two-year assistant football coach Matthew Grady called him later.

"I freaked out immediately," he said. "It's just an honor to be picked in that game to be an All-Star player. It's unbelievable how I feel about it."

Best isn't sure which position he'll play. He worked at quarterback and running back last fall, and turned in a 92-yard, one-touchdown effort in the regular-season finale against Southern Wayne.

"Honestly, I don't know. I'm going to just get down there (Greensboro)," he said. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes for that team because I'm a team player. (But) I would say I'm more of running back. (When) I played quarterback, I want to say I had a lot more talent around me, but I had a lot of bigger guys to where the windows were a lot bigger, and I could just launch the ball here or there and they could go get it.

"Where now, I have to actually locate the ball, put it in a small area, and I ain't really taught for that. I can squeeze through a couple of holes because I'm little bit smaller than a lot of guys. That helps me out a lot, too."

Injuries plagued Best throughout the season, but he says his leg has not bothered him since football season. He says basketball gave him no issues with his ankle.

Grady has no worries about one of the most-talented players to ever wear an Eastern Wayne football uniform. He knows that Best will succeed in Greensboro and once he moves on to the Junior College of the Desert in California.

"I'm super excited for him," Grady said. "It's a real honor. I think he's going to have a great game. He deserves it, he's a great kid, a great, young man (and) he's matured a lot since he's been here. I think he's going to do well in college as well. He's excited to represent Eastern Wayne. I'm really happy for him."

Best said the West coast won't allow him to get bored and will help him avoid trouble. He admitted he'll miss his high school days.

"I had a lot of family that's not really family, and they just stood behind me," Best said. "Going out to eat with the team and coaches, it was a blessing -- just to be here (Eastern Wayne). This staff and generation, I can tell it's a lot different, looking at my brothers and how they came up. They didn't really have a unity from people from school who are on a team or just the coaches.

"Now, it's more than just the team or coaches. You got people there for you, you got fans, you got teachers that actually help you. It's a big difference. I actually enjoyed it (high school football).

"I wish I could go back."