For Strother senior Michael Kanard, basketball is more than a sport; it’s a promise. A promise to work hard, stay disciplined, and make his family proud. As a small forward for the Mustangs, Michael has grown into a reliable leader whose game reflects years of dedication, long weeks of training, and countless AAU weekends spent sharpening his skills.
Michael draws his motivation from the people closest to him, especially his dad, his biggest role model. He credits his father for always guiding him in the right direction and being the steady presence he can count on both on and off the court. At school, Mrs. Brewster stands out as the teacher who has pushed him the hardest academically. Her belief in him fuels the same kind of effort he brings to the basketball court.
Hard work has paid off in big ways, but one moment stands above the rest: beating Sasakwa in regionals after losing to them twice earlier in the year. The win didn’t just secure redemption; it proved how much the team had grown and how determined they were to fight back when it mattered most.
Michael loves competition, and if you ask him who he enjoys beating the most, the answer comes fast: Bowlegs. Not because of rivalry, but because it gives him a chance to talk a little friendly trash to his buddy Cylas. In practice, he gravitates toward teammate Braydon Turner, whose relentless effort pushes Michael to elevate his game every day. He also points out Parker Moody as the team’s most underrated player, a hustle guy who doesn’t always get the appreciation he deserves but is essential to everything the team does.
Outside of basketball, Michael is involved in STEM, and when he’s scrolling through social media, he’s usually checking out content from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, his favorite follow and, in his words, “the goat.”
Balancing schoolwork and sports is a daily challenge, but Michael manages it by staying ahead in class or knocking things out after practice. When he steps on the court wearing Strother across his chest, he plays with pride, purpose, and the desire to be a positive example for his school and community.
For Michael Kanard, representing Strother means giving everything he has, every possession, every game, every season.
