By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Max Kenyi has heard all the lines about his physique and his basketball ability. Too skinny. Too soft. Can only play defense. That last taunt, in particular, really bothered the Gonzaga senior forward.

"I used to hate that one," Kenyi said, shaking his head and smiling. "I always felt I could play on both ends of the court."

As the top-ranked Eagles continue their impressive season, Kenyi has continued to shake the preconceived notions about his play. Yes, the Harvard recruit can play defense, as he proved once again last night. But Kenyi is quite a threat on offense, too, and he scored a game-high 22 points as host Gonzaga handled fifth-ranked O'Connell, 83-62, before a near-capacity crowd in a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference game.

"He put it all together on both sides of the ball," Gonzaga Coach Steve Turner said. "I'll put him up against anybody. I think he's the best defender in the city. Tonight, he happened to be guarding one of the best offensive players in the city."

That would be the Georgetown-bound Jason Clark. However, O'Connell's standout guard never got going against the 6-foot-4 1/2 Kenyi and finished with 11 points, half his average.

"It's just his length that makes it hard," Clark said. "It's hard to get around him. He's got good foot speed and good control."

Said Kenyi: "I don't think it's rocket science. You just move your feet."

Kenyi also said he believed strength plays a role in his success. He looks reed-thin -- O'Connell's students last night chanted "Starvin' Marvin" as he shot free throws -- and Kenyi believes opponents underestimate his strength.

"I think I'm taken lightly sometimes," he said. "Looks are very deceiving. I feel I'm strong and can hold my own."

Like its leading scorer, O'Connell (15-4, 6-3) struggled to find consistency. Kenyi and Cameron Johnson made three consecutive three-pointers early in the second quarter to break open the game and give Gonzaga a 36-18 lead. The Eagles (19-1, 10-1) never were threatened, and continue to look like a good pick to end DeMatha's three-year run as league champion.

"I've felt we're the team to beat from the get-go," Kenyi said. "If we don't come out and dominate the league and win the championship, it would be a choke."

No. 1 Gonzaga 83 No. 5 O'Connell 62 Homecoming: Harvard Coach Tommy Amaker, a Fairfax native, was in attendance to watch two his two recruits, Gonzaga's Max Kenyi and O'Connell center Frank Ben-Eze. Balance: In addition to Kenyi's game-high 22 points, three other Gonzaga players scored in double figures: center Ian Hummer (14 points), forward Cameron Johnson (13) and guard Tyler Thornton (11). No. 1 Gonzaga 83 No. 5 O'Connell 62 Homecoming: Harvard Coach Tommy Amaker, a Fairfax native, was in attendance to watch two his two recruits, Gonzaga's Max Kenyi and O'Connell center Frank Ben-Eze. Balance: In addition to Kenyi's game-high 22 points, three other Gonzaga players scored in double figures: center Ian Hummer (14 points), forward Cameron Johnson (13) and guard Tyler Thornton (11).