Finding the right pair of shoes can be a challenge when you wear a size 17.
If only shopping for sneakers were as easy as slam-dunking a basketball for Kinkaid School senior Brandon Charnov.
Charnov, a member of Congregation Beth Israel, stands 6-feet, 10-inches tall, 260 pounds and is a big reason Kinkaid’s basketball team is off to such a good start.
The senior center is averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds a game in helping lead the Falcons to an 11-2 record.
“It’s been a good year so far,” Charnov said. “We have a really good team and they’ve been really fun to play with.”
Being the tallest player on the court has its advantages, but Charnov has worked even harder to excel against some of the best players in the city.
Charnov is a threat on both the offensive and defensive side of the court and does a great job of moving the ball around to his teammates, as well.
“Brandon obviously makes it difficult for opposing teams with his size, but he also makes it difficult for them with his skill level,” Kinkaid coach Larry Wilkins said.
“He certainly makes our team a whole lot better when he is on the floor. He is very driven and determined to get better every game.”
The successful senior season is even more rewarding for Charnov, considering he missed his entire junior year after tearing his ACL in 2014.
Charnov suffered the injury in practice two days before Kinkaid’s first game last year.
“It was tough,” Charnov said. “We were just running full court and I was in the post. I faked one way, turned the other and my knee just let out on me.”
Between physical therapy sessions, Charnov attended just about every game and continued to help the team in any way he could.
He turned into a team manager of sorts, and would also watch film, helping the team prepare for upcoming opponents with a scouting report.
“It was difficult to watch our team stumble a bit and not be able to help out,” Charnov said. “It was definitely a learning experience. It taught me to work hard every day and not really take a day for granted.”
Charnov was cleared to practice in August and led team workouts on the court and in the weight room leading up to the season.
“I met with Brandon very early and made him one of the captains in organizing the workouts,” Wilkins said. “He ran the workouts and was the leader and always someone I could depend on.
“We don’t have team captains, but if we did, he would certainly be our captain.”
Now, two months into the season, Charnov said he feels 100 percent.
That feeling was confirmed earlier this month when Charnov helped lead Kinkaid to a championship in the Lee College Classic on Dec. 5.
Charnov was named to the all-tournament team after leading Kinkaid past Channelview in the championship game.
Playing for Kinkaid has allowed Charnov to build strong athletic bonds, including one with sophomore teammate and University of Kentucky recruit Jae LeDee.
“He is one of the best players in the country,” Charnov said. “I’ve being able to hang out with him and have been kind of a mentor for him. Being able to see him grow is a really cool experience.”
Charnov also has seen his fair share of interest from recruiters.
Brown and Columbia are two of the Division I programs that are seeking his services.
“Unfortunately for Brandon, he got hurt his junior year when a lot of the recruiting happens,” Wilkins said. “Fortunately for someone else, they are going to get a steal of a player.
“Some schools might have shied away from him because of the injury, but someone is going to get a really good player because he is quite a talent.”
Outside of basketball, Charnov keeps a balance by staying active at Beth Israel and with BBYO.
“I’ve been involved in BBYO since my freshman year,” he said. “There are a lot of Jewish people that I get to hang out with and that is an outlet that I don’t have at Kinkaid. It helps me get in touch with my Jewish side a little more.”
The only thing Charnov has not perfected yet is finding a local place that sells size 17 shoes.
“I’ve probably been shopping online for shoes since I was 13 or 14 years old,” Charnov said. “I always have to order them ahead of time and it takes a month to come in.”
But, just like returning to the court for his senior season, it has been well-worth the wait.
