Basketball Brings Them Together, Love Keeps Them Close
As Liam Kelly prepares for senior night at Woodinville, he reflects on a lifetime of basketball memories with his father (and coach) by his side.
WOODINVILLE, Wa. – When asked about Seattle Prep standout D.J. Fenner, coach Mike Kelly once said, “He’s wired to score.”
During the 2012-13 season, Fenner was one of the most electric players in Washington, earning Player of the Year honors in a season that also featured current Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine (Bothell High School). Fenner averaged more than 27 points per game and scored fewer than 20 points just three times that year.
While Fenner dominated the Metro League, a young Liam Kelly was just starting to dream of his own basketball future. Like many kids who grow up around the game, Liam spent countless nights running around the court after high school games, emulating Fenner and his teammates.
“I just remember looking up to all of the players and dreaming of being one of them and getting to play for my dad,” said Liam, now a senior point guard at Woodinville High School.
This Saturday at 5 p.m., Liam will take the court for his senior night against North Creek, celebrating his high-school accomplishments with his dad as his coach.
“It hasn’t fully hit me yet,” Liam admitted. “I grew up in a gym with him playing basketball. It’s kind of sad that this is the last time I will play with him as my coach.”
A Lifelong Journey in Basketball
Liam’s basketball journey has been years in the making. As a child, Mike coached Liam’s baseball team, while other neighborhood dads handled basketball and soccer.
Even then, Mike saw something special in his son.
“When people ask me how you can tell if a kid is going to be good, it’s hard to say,” Mike said. “But you can’t always teach competitive drive, and I saw that in him from the beginning. He was tiny, but he competed so hard. It was a joy to watch and continues to be a joy.”
Mike Kelly has been a fixture in Seattle high school basketball for years, coaching not only Liam but also his older son, Declan, and now his youngest son, Rowan, a freshman. Coaching his own kids has been both rewarding and challenging.
“I lean on my assistant coaches,” Mike admitted.
For Liam, navigating the dual roles of having his dad as both coach and parent hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been an unforgettable experience.
“He’s definitely hard sometimes,” Liam said with a smile. “But I think he’s a great coach. Navigating him being my dad and my coach, seeing those two different roles, it’s been interesting. It’s challenging at times, but it’s really fun. I enjoy it a lot.”
Cherished Memories
Despite the challenges, the bond forged on the court has created memories that will last a lifetime.
“Being at games when I was little, running around with the other coaches’ kids, playing on the court after the games – I just remember looking up to all the players and dreaming of being one of them,” Liam said.
Mike is equally reflective about the journey.
“He’s been such a joy,” Mike said. “There’s been so much positive that’s happened over the past four years.”
Before a recent game against Roosevelt in the MLK Day Classic at Seattle Pacific University, Mike walked out of the gym, put his arm around Liam, and kissed him on the head.
“That’s my guy,” the coach said.
The kid who once idolized players like D.J. Fenner is now a senior, finishing his own story of growing up around the game, creating season-after-season of memories with dad.