After the end of the 2025 season, Kenyata Carbon quickly got back to work. He dedicated himself to the gym with a focus on his three-point shooting. The results were exponential – culminating in the Owensboro native being named 2026 Mid-South Player of the Year – joining Lindsey Wilson University’s Scott Cook as the only athletes in program history to win the award. He also became the fourth player in conference history to win both Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year.
“It feels good to be named Mid-South Player of the Year,” Carbon said. “All of the work I put in. I need to thank God first and thank my mother. …It feels wonderful to be in elite company with Cook. He is one of the greats that came through here, and just being able to have my name mentioned with his means a lot to me.”
It wasn’t until early January that Carbon realized he was playing at another level, dropping 32 points against Campbellsville University before scoring 33 points two days later against Cumberland University.
“That really boosted my confidence,” Carbon said.
Heading into the season, winning Player of the Year wasn’t on his radar; instead, Carbon was focused on helping his team reach the NAIA National Tournament. Later this week, they will discover their fate on whether they advance to the big dance or not.
“I focused on my confidence,” Carbon said. “I just needed to be confident in my game. Development-wise, I needed to work on my shooting ability and get my three-point shot up to help the team.”
Across 29 games this year, he averaged 19.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Specifically, he saw a drastic spike in his shooting, raising his field goal percentage from 46.4% to 58.9% and increasing his three-point shot from 31.7% to 36.5%.
Not wanting to stay stagnant, Carbon acknowledged that once the season winds to an end, he plans to get back in the gym to continue becoming even more consistent with his shot. The focus will be on getting to his spots faster, raising his three-point percentage, and working on his free throws.
“I am thankful for my friends, family, and teammates,” Carbon said. “I wouldn’t be able to win this award without them being in my corner, being present, and showing their love.”
