Chris Kidd takes next step in his playing career; Gator signed by ABA's Cardinals
Albany, NY—Sage's senior men's basketball player Chris Kidd (Troy, NY/Beacon) was honored as the Male Athlete of the Year in late April and has now added another honor to his playing resume. Kidd was signed with the Atlantic Coast Cardinals of the America Basketball Association (ABA). The Cardinals are a member of the North East Division and will open the new season on November 2 hosting the Jersey Express in the season opener.
Sage Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Barnes noted, "We are incredibly proud of Chris as he accomplishes a life-long goal of becoming a professional basketball player." Barnes continued, "Chris has shown a great determination and work ethic to get to this level. We're thankful for Chris's contributions to Sage Basketball and Gator Nation is excited to follow the next chapter of his basketball career. We wish him and the Cardinals the best of luck this season and beyond!"
As a member of Sage's men's basketball program for two seasons, Kidd capped his Gator career in style having finished the 2018-2019 season as the team's leading scorer and top rebounder. Earlier in the year was selected to the 2018-2019 Empire 8 Men's Basketball All-Star Second Team. A non-traditional student at Sage, Kidd who is a married 34 year old father of four children, was featured in several stories about his journey as a member of the Sage men's basketball team and as a student at Sage this year.
Kidd, who has earned acclaim this season as the Gators' leading scorer on the campaign after averaging 12.8 ppg with 321 points and a team-best 8.3 rpg average. He collected 10 double-doubles as well on the year. In his Sage career he added 414 career points and is fourth all-time with his 13.4 career ppg average. A 1,000 point scorer over the course of his collegiate career, he was Sage's high scorer six times this year and also the high rebounder 12 times as well for the Gators. His career-high single-game performance was a 30-point game in the Gators' overtime victory over Utica, 95-89, while adding 14 rebounds against Elmira this year.
With his selection as the Sage Male Athlete of the Year, Kidd becomes the fourth men's basketball player honored as the Gator Male Athlete of the Year. Kidd becomes the latest men's basketball player to continue his playing career beyond the collegiate level following in the footsteps of Gator alumni, Melvin Ford, Marcus Patterson, and Ryan Sager.
