From South Kent to NBA Summer League

From South Kent to NBA Summer League

On July 19, Jordan Gainey recorded seven points, two assists and a rebound when the Phoenix Suns played the Portland Trailblazers in NBA Summer League.

Provided

“There were many days I’d be in on the hillside of South Kent just thinking, ‘Man, am I gonna make it?’” reflected Jordan Gainey.

In June, the South Kent School Class of 2021 alumnus signed an NBA Summer League contract with the Phoenix Suns.

The signing with Phoenix brought Gainey full circle. He grew up in Tucson, Arizona, before moving across the country for a post-graduate year with the Cardinals.

He played under Raphael Chillious, former South Kent basketball coach and athletic director, who transformed the program into a national powerhouse.

“I just knew one day if he got to the right place he had a chance,” said Chillious.Because he is such a good defender, smart player and really tough.”

Off the court, Chillious said Gainey was “really funny. But if you stood back from afar, you would think he was shy and quiet, but he’s not.”

While at South Kent, Gainey lived in the gym. He recalled spending hours memorizing his teammates’ moves nearly every day, for two semesters straight.

Gainey remembered practices with Chillious as some of the hardest of his career. The coach’s lessons remained with him through college.

“Be a coffee bean,” Gainey said. “Whenever things get hard and it gets hot, they do not break — they make coffee. It’s really being able to fight through adversity.”

Looking back, Gainey credited those countless hours in the South Kent gym for helping him fall in love with the game.

“He would always tell us, there are no cool jackets,” said Gainey. “You’ve got to be the one who does the dirty work, plays hard, and doesn’t care about looking cool — just getting the job done.”

Gainey graduated from South Kent School in 2021. He went on to play NCAA Division 1 basketball and made the Elite Eight twice with the University of Tennessee. This summer, he signed a Summer League deal with the Phoenix Suns.Provided

After his year in Kent, Gainey committed to the University of South Carolina Upstate. Two years later, he transferred to University of Tennessee to play for coach Rick Barnes as well as his father, Justin Gainey, assistant coach.

In his two seasons with Tennessee Gainey helped the Volunteers make back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA March Madness tournament in 2024 and 2025. This past tournament, he averaged 13 points off the bench and was a strong contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Among his college highlights is a buzzer beater against University of Illinois in December 2024 to keep the Volunteers’ undefeated 10-0 record alive.

His performances earned him a spot on the Suns’ Summer League team. Games were played in Las Vegas, where he vied against other top young prospects for an NBA contract.

“Vegas is a time, and it’s a great place to be,” said Gainey. “But when you’re here you got to treat it like a business trip... make the best impression on and off the court for anyone who could be watching.”

Gainey made the most of his opportunity. His best game came against the Portland Trailblazers in which he logged seven points, two assists and one rebound in 19 minutes of playing time.

Gainey’s NBA future is uncertain. He is competing against players who have spent similar hours in the gym and whose dream is to go pro.

But Gainey has spent a long time in the heat. Now, it’s time to make coffee.

Latest News

Cornwall board approves purchase of two new fire trucks following CVFD recommendation
CVFD reaches fundraising goal for new fire trucks
Provided

CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.

Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less