Introducing the Kentridge Keowlas

If your last name is Keowla, there is a pretty good chance you grew up with a basketball in your hands.

Some kids play soccer, some play baseball, or some don’t play sports at all. But that’s not the case for Jayla, Troy and Jaylen Keowla, who are part of a bloodline of Kentridge High School basketball players.

“Everywhere we went, there was always a basketball with us,” Troy said.

Jayla and Troy are the youngest in a family of six, with four older sisters. All four sisters played basketball and all four played at Kentridge, but all at different times.

Jayla is in her senior season on a Kentridge girls team that has a 40-26 record over her first three years, and they currently sit third in the NPSL this season with a 7-8 record.

Jayla is the lone senior on her team and she has become a leader for the Chargers over the past two years. Growing up, she learned that leading by example on the basketball court starts with respect.

“Our sisters push on us. If we don’t like what we see or hear, we are going to speak on it and advocate on it for those who can’t themselves,” Jayla said.

Jayla’s oldest sister is 36, and the sister older than her is 29. Just by virtue of age, her and Troy were very close.

“He was my best friend, partner in crime,” Jayla said. “My sisters were mother figures along with my mom.”

The two of them are just naturally competitive, not just on the court.

“Board games, food, cooking, cleaning. You name it, we probably made a competition out of it,” Jayla said.

After a game, the ride home and the immediate aftermath would become a tell-all from anyone who watched.

“There are a lot of opinions in the house. After a game, there are a lot of things coming at me, like ‘Jayla you did great rebounding’ to ‘Jayla you need to stop falling on the ground,’” she said.

In Troy’s case, he’s taken a different path in the green and yellow. Troy is in his junior season — a quick and agile point guard who defends well and has become a weapon for second year Head Coach Zac Webb.

Troy Keowla’s first season at Kentridge was under legendary Kentridge Head Coach David Jamison. During his freshman year, Keowla played entirely junior varsity and maybe would have again in his sophomore season. But with Webb taking over the program, that gave him a shot to make the jump.

When Troy made his varsity debut last season, there was a lot of anticipation in the household. But that first quad night, where Jayla played first and Troy followed after, was a special experience. Jaylen was in eighth grade at the time, but was in attendance to watch his family take the floor.

“It was really cool to see them play the game they love in front of a big audience… I was just happy that they could show it,” Jaylen said.

Troy and Jayla’s oldest sister, Karen, is Jaylen’s mom. Troy is technically his uncle, but he sees Jaylen more as a brother than a nephew.

“It’s been good. All the whoopins’ I gave him are paying off. I just told him to be tougher and it’s showing. I’m proud of him,” Troy said.

“It’s good to have someone you can rely on and talk to,” Troy added.

The two boys took extra time together to prepare Jaylen for a varsity roster spot. Troy knew there was a pretty good chance that Jaylen would make the cut, but the two went to the Renton Community Center to prepare for the season. There were a couple of nerves, but Webb selected Jaylen, and now with four games left, he has started the last nine games for the Chargers.

Without Webb, the boys think it wouldn’t have been possible to play varsity at the same time.

“I’ve very grateful for coach Webb. He believes in everyone on the team,” Jaylen said.

Troy and Jaylen haven’t played on the same team until Kentridge, and they are taking full advantage of it.

What is even more special is in the entire 4A NPSL, Jaylen is the only starting freshman. His uncle has played a big role in helping him succeed.

“Troy been giving me advice and helping me work through everything. I don’t think I’d be in the position I am without him,” Jaylen said.

“They’re not brothers, but they act like it because they are so close in age. I think that is so cool and it’s cute. You’re playing with your family and you can look back and realize it,” Jayla said.

But as all relationships go, they have their ups and downs. From Jayla’s perspective, there is a bit of humor in the rocky moments: “The funny thing is, if they fight and bicker on the court, they are going to have to go home with each other, ”Jayla said.

But admittedly, there is some jealousy from Jayla because she doesn’t get to play with a family member: “It would be cool to have a sister on the team, my own little duo.”

Jaylen and Troy have seen Jayla up close their whole lives. She puts in the extra work that it takes to play at the high school varsity level, even so much as inspiring them to be great in their own right.

“She’s great at giving us advice on basketball and coaches. It’s great to see someone that you know and love go out there and play,” Troy said.

Every game day there is a competition for eyeballs in the Keowla household, especially this year with Jayla in her final high school season and Jaylen just starting his first.

“Now they have to split because half want watch Jayla and half want to watch us,” Troy said. But if someone in the family doesn’t want to drive, whoever is at home gets the support that night.

The three Keowlas live and breathe basketball, a sport that they all grew up playing and now have the opportunity to play together — and that opportunity doesn’t come around very often.

All of them plan on playing basketball at the next level. Jayla is eyeing community colleges while Troy and Jaylen have a little bit more time.

“The short-term goal is college basketball and we want see where that takes us for our future endeavors,” Troy said.