Basketball provides Kennedy's Fuller an escape

CEDAR RAPIDS -- There are times when Darius Fuller is alone in the gymnasium. That's what he prefers.

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy senior point guard just wants to shoot, dribble, shut out the world. Especially that last thing.

In the parlance of the sport he loves, Fuller has faced constant full-court pressure as a teenager. Sometimes he has wilted under it, sometimes he has beaten it.

All the time, it's a battle.

"Basketball has meant so much to me," Fuller said. "It's been something for me to get away to, something to help me take my mind off of things. I love playing the game. It's something I've done since I was little. It has been great for me. I'm so thankful for it."

Fuller usually is quick with a smile, which is surprising if you consider his situation. His father has never really been in his life. His mother, Mona, died five years ago. He's got a younger brother, Draven, a junior at Kennedy, to worry about, too.

That's a lot to put on anyone's plate, especially someone so young.

"Sometimes I do get down," Darius said. "But I know I've got to keep my head up. I don't really know what to say. It's tough, it's definitely tough ... I just use that as motivation. It's unfortunate, but the situation is what it is. It makes me stronger, I guess."

There are a lot of people that care about Darius and Draven Fuller. That's the good thing. The boys come from a large and supportive family.

Darius spends part of his time with his uncle and aunt, Larry and Patti Williams, of Cedar Rapids. Larry is an assistant basketball coach at Kennedy.

Other times he's with Trisha and Kent Sesker, another uncle and aunt who love him dearly. Uncle Rick Williams is an associate principal at Cedar Rapids Washington and another hugely positive influence.

"It's a village raising a child, to be honest with you," Larry Williams said. "Everyone has done their part. I just happen to be dealing with the coaching part. His aunt Trisha is the care giver and the disciplinarian. My wife is the academic advisor, I'm the coaching advisor. Rick needs to be included as an academic advisor, too, because he's academically wise. You've got many aunts and uncles who are very supportive."

Darius has what Larry Williams calls "study table" at his house three nights a week. The goal is college basketball somewhere at some level, so hitting the books is a priority.

But as you'd expect, it hasn't always been easy for everyone. There have been slip ups, such as Darius and best friend Josiah Coleman being suspended for Kennedy's first 10 games for a violation of school policy.

Another life lesson.

"You've got to learn from it," Darius said. "I've got to stay out of trouble. I'm definitely not trying to make any of those mistakes anymore. Learn from it, build off of it, use it. Missing 10 games, I don't want my senior season to end early, so I'm going to fight for everything. What I've been through only makes me want it that much more."

"You know what I told those kids?" Kennedy Coach Bob Fontana said. "It's how you respond to those situations that determines what kind of person you are. Because all of us make mistakes."

Kennedy begins its tournament trail Friday night against either Cedar Rapids Xavier or Cedar Rapids Washington. The goal is a trip to the state tournament, obviously.

The fitting end to this story is Fuller and his uncle getting there.

"Let's put it this way. Basketball has been his therapy. He has always just felt comfortable in the gym," Larry Williams said. "He and Draven have both had a lot to go through. With as large a family as we have, we've tried to make it as easy for them as we could. There is a lot of love, a lot of care that goes into raising those two. Darius hasn't been the easiest, but there are no 16, 17-year-old kids who are easy (to raise). It's not going to be a walk in the park. But I wouldn't trade the experience of having him here on this basketball team for anything. Selfishly, I've been able to see him every day, watch his growth every day. And not just on the basketball court."