Malvern Prep’s Deuce Turner is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The senior guard became Malvern Prep’s all-time leading basketball scorer Dec. 7, breaking the 45-year-old mark of Charlie Floyd (1,725 points). The Bucknell University commit currently has more than 1,800 career points and is averaging 22 ppg this season. Malvern Prep basketball head coach John Harmatuk said, “I think people see the scoring talent when they see Deuce play, [but] what they can’t see is all the hard work he puts in behind the scenes. He’s a tireless worker. It takes a toll mentally to be the go-to guy night in and night out. He handles this with great poise.” Turner’s first name is Kieves, but his father also has the same first name; hence the nickname “Deuce” for Kieves Jr.
Q: Tell us a little about your off-season basketball training during the past few months. What area of your game do you feel you’ve improved the most in the off-season?
A: In the off-season I trained pretty much every day with my dad, who’s a trainer. I worked primarily on my ball handling, finishing moves, and in-game IQ and awareness. The area in which I most improved has been my awareness because that’s the area I spent the most time on.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 4 because your father, Kieves Sr., also wore it when he played. What has been the most important thing you have learned from him about basketball?
A: My dad is really like a playground legend. He didn’t have the opportunity to play in HS or college unfortunately and he stopped training early to start early on with me. The biggest thing I take from my dad in any game is simply be the most impactful player out on the floor. Not necessarily by scoring the most points, but whatever I need to do to dominant the game, go do it.
Q: What do you think is the strongest aspect of your game? What part of your game are you working on the most currently?
A: I believe the strongest part of my game is actually not tangible, it’s my passion. I feel and love the game so much it gives me the will and drive to produce wins. Currently, I’m working on my conditioning and defense.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a contest.
A: For my pre-game preparation I’ve started getting back into my roots by watching Kobe Bryant videos alongside Eric Thomas speeches. It really puts me into that killer mode.
Q: What do you think you’d like to major in at college? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: In college I want to get into entrepreneurship and management. As far as my career path, I fully intend on playing in the NBA, that’s the goal, but after that is where I’d to be an owner of a company.
Fun facts – Deuce Turner
Favorite movie: The Last Dragon.
Favorite athlete: Kobe Bryant.
Favorite team: Los Angeles Lakers.
Person I most admire and why: “My mom, she does absolutely everything for me and my brothers. She’s what pushes me to be better everyday so she doesn’t have to work anymore.”
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
