No Matter How Far, Brothers Stay Together – Kennedy Chandler, Jabari Small and Omari Thomas are Linked for Life
Max Potter
For the Tennessee Volunteers football team, the offseason is time for many things. A time for relaxation and studies, a time for getting in the weight room or taking a deep dive into the playbook, a time build on your weaknesses or identify strengths.
For Jabari Small and Omari Thomas, it provided maybe the most unique opportunity of all: to see a lifelong friend fulfill his lifelong dreams.
Growing up in Memphis, Jabari and Omari quickly bonded on the gridiron, soon joined by another friend, Kennedy Chandler.
The three were inseparable from the second grade and their time on the Whitehaven Cowboys up through high school when the trio enrolled at Briarcrest Christian School. They were always competing, whether it was on the football field, or inside the gym getting shots up, they were always together playing sports. Little did they know the journey that would lie ahead.
Omari and Jabari were a year older than Kennedy, so their time with the Saints started before Kennedy’s arrival. The two were instant standouts on the field. In their freshman year on Varsity, Jabari averaged 17.0 yards per carry and Omari recorded eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. A year later, Kennedy arrived, a stud on the basketball court.
As the years went on the three flourished in their games. Jabari would run for 1,118 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, only to follow it up with a 1,538-yard season with 25 scores as a senior. Omari was wreaking havoc on opposing offenses, accumulating offers from the top-tier of college football.
In fact, Omari earned Mr. Football honors his senior season, while Kennedy was a back-to-back Mr. Basketball honoree his junior and sophomore seasons.
Then came the jam-packed Starks Chapel on Dec. 9, 2019. Omari picked the University of Tennessee as Rocky Top blared through the speakers and his classmates looked on with jubilation as the big-time recruit dawned a Tennessee cap. The very next day, Jabari Small committed to the Volunteers after decommitting from his father’s alma mater, Ole Miss, shortly before.
Big O ?? Big ??
— Khari Thompson (@_KhariThompson) December 9, 2019
Omari Thomas has committed to Tennessee pic.twitter.com/TcVbljg34F
Thank you Lord, a dream come true! #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/vTfta3hBzA
— Jabari Small (@JMS4_) December 10, 2019
The dynamic duo would head to Rocky Top. But they would be incomplete.
Kennedy still had a year to before graduation, and with Jabari and Omari across the state in Knoxville, the touted hooper went to the Sunflower state to play for Sunrise Christian Academy. He tore it up with the Buffaloes, becoming a McDonald’s All-American, the Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and a finalist for the MaxPreps National Player of the Year Award. But Tennessee was home, and on Aug. 14, 2020, Kennedy committed to become a Volunteer and reunite with Jabari and Omari.
COMMITTED?? #GBO pic.twitter.com/bqMmENvT5M
— Kennedy Chandler (@KChandler_1) August 14, 2020
We all knew that was something you have to cherish because it is not really common for three best friends to grow up all together, go to the same high school, and end up going to the same college. We just really cherish those moments together and looked at it as a true blessing because we know it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.Omari Thomas
Trio was making plays today?????? @901_sxvxge @JMS4_
— Kennedy Chandler (@KChandler_1) September 24, 2022
Fast forward a year and a half. All three have emerged as stars in their sport. They support each other as brothers – attending games, helping each other navigate college and watching one another shine in their lives. But basketball, unlike football, allows players to go pro after just one season in college.
Now its Kennedy’s turn to go first.
chapter 1. @KChandler_1 pic.twitter.com/w5RUydmXwB
— 8EYE (@free8eye) June 28, 2022
On June 23, 2022, the 2022 NBA Draft commenced. Gathered in Memphis were none other than the three who had been through it together all along: Kennedy Chandler, Jabari Small and Omari Thomas. Then comes the moment that will be remembered forever.
Selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, by way of the San Antonio Spurs, with the 38th pick of the NBA Draft.
Back to the crib ??@KChandler_1 is staying home#NBAVols X @memgrizz pic.twitter.com/BDykhAqyWW
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) June 24, 2022
Reaction from Kennedy Chandler after his long wait on draft night ended with a phone call from his hometown @memgrizz pic.twitter.com/peGULWpB84
— Mike Ceide (@MCeide_WREG3) June 24, 2022
Memphis Grizzlies. The hometown team, the hometown kid, the only major pro sport in the town and the only NBA organization in the state.
Memphis what’s good????
— Kennedy Chandler (@KChandler_1) June 24, 2022
“Being able to go back and play for the Grizzlies, that is something you dream about honestly,” Omari said. “You can’t write that out. That is something you want. Being close to family, being close to friends that you have grown up with your whole life. It has its up and downs too because everyone is not going to have his best interest. He always looks toward me and Jabari (Small) to just be there for him and always encourage him.”
Now, Jabari and Omari both see that as motivation for themselves to continue to shine on Saturdays with the Vols.
It felt like I got drafted when I saw his name go across the board on TV because I’ve been there through the ups and downs. During the season when he thought he was struggling, and it still paid off. That has helped me this year – everything is not going to go how you planned, but it’s all about how you finish and overcome those things. That is how you come out on top.Jabari Small
“Being able to go back and play for the Grizzlies, that is something you dream about honestly,” Omari said. “You can’t write that out. That is something you want. Being close to family, being close to friends that you have grown up with your whole life. It has its up and downs too because everyone is not going to have his best interest. He always looks toward me and Jabari (Small) to just be there for him and always encourage him.”
“It felt like I got drafted when I saw his name go across the board on TV because I’ve been there through the ups and downs,” Jabari followed up with. “During the season when he thought he was struggling, and it still paid off. That has helped me this year – everything is not going to go how you planned, but it’s all about how you finish and overcome those things. That is how you come out on top.”
Now, Jabari and Omari both see that as motivation for themselves to continue to shine on Saturdays with the Vols.
I don’t think it really hit me or Jabari until we really saw it and getting a chance to go to Kennedy’s draft party. Being able to see his name come up on there and being able to spend time with him after the draft and know how much hard work he put in motivated us to continue to put in hard work in what we are doing and continue to just try to be great. We know that is a goal of all of ours. We all want to make it to the league so that way we can continue to add to our story.
“I don’t think it really hit me or Jabari until we really saw it and getting a chance to go to Kennedy’s draft party,” Omari said. “Being able to see his name come up on there and being able to spend time with him after the draft and know how much hard work he put in motivated us to continue to put in hard work in what we are doing and continue to just try to be great. We know that is a goal of all of ours. We all want to make it to the league so that way we can continue to add to our story.”
“Seeing that was crazy, he did so much in such a short time, and seeing him get his makes me want to go get mine even more,” Jabari added. “I am very, very motivated, but I can’t rush it. It is all about timing and the situation, so until my name is called, I just have to keep working. That is the biggest thing. Staying focused and understanding everything isn’t going to go right or according to plan. As long as you overcome and finish strong and be good to people, good things will come back to you. My time is coming, I’ve just got to keep working.”
With the NBA season freshly underway and the Vols preparing for another big game, the three still talk daily and continue to motivate and inspire each other with every conversation.
“Kennedy keeps up with us every day,” Jabari said, talking about how much they stay in touch now that they are all in season. “He kind of gets mad at us sometimes when we can’t answer his calls because we are so busy with what we’ve got going. They are already rolling with their season too, and I can’t wait to support him as he goes through the journey.”
young shiners at media day ?? pic.twitter.com/oMZgv2TKaF
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) September 26, 2022
These are the moments the three dreamed off growing up. Now they are coming true, and though things may get off-track or setbacks happen, it is all a part of the plan and the dream that the three had growing up in West Tennessee.
Seeing him out there is crazy to me because he is just little bro. I am so proud of him, and it shows that it’s right there. It’s so far, but it’s so close. A lot of hard work and a couple of good things happen to you and boom, you are where you want to be. Omari and I, we push each other here, but seeing him on TNT at night, it’s crazy and it motivates me to push myself every single day.Jabari Small
File this under: things you love to see @JaMorant @KChandler_1
— Avery Braxton (@Brax_Avery) July 6, 2022
?? - AP pic.twitter.com/W6z8rOb2Be
We always used to talk about how we wanted to live in certain places. We all wanted to live in Texas, have our houses close by each other, and just have our jerseys up in each other’s houses. That is something that you can just show your family as you grow up. You can show your best friends and how you continued with them your whole life. It is just something that not everyone gets to do.Omari Thomas