{{short description|American professional basketball player (born 1984)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Kennedy Winston | image = | image_size = | caption = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = 230 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|7|29}} | birth_place = Prichard, Alabama, U.S. | high_school = Mattie T. Blount (Prichard, Alabama) | college = Alabama (2002–2005) | draft_year = 2005 | career_start = 2005 | career_end = 2018 | career_number = | career_position = Shooting guard / Small forward | years1 = 2005–2006 | team1 = Gran Canaria | years2 = 2006–2007 | team2 = Panionios | years3 = 2007–2008 | team3 = Panathinaikos | years4 = 2008–2009 | team4 = Türk Telekom | years5 = 2009 | team5 = Real Madrid | years6 = 2009–2010 | team6 = Lottomatica Roma | years7 = 2010–2011 | team7 = Virtus Bologna | years8 = 2011–2012 | team8 = Telenet Oostende | years9 = 2013 | team9 = BCM Gravelines | years10 = 2013 | team10 = Amchit Club | years11 = 2014 | team11 = Olympique Antibes | years12 = 2014–2015 | team12 = Halcones de Xalapa | years13 = 2015 | team13 = Club Malvín | years14 = 2015 | team14 = Guaiqueríes de Margarita | years15 = 2015–2016 | team15 = Club Malvín | years16 = 2016 | team16 = Club Atlético Peñarol | highlights = * Greek League champion (2008) * Greek Cup winner (2008) * All-Greek League Second Team (2007) * LUB champion (2015) * LUB Finals MVP (2015) * FIBA EuroCup All-Star Day (2007) * GBL All Star (2007) * 2× First-team All-SEC (2004–2005) * Fourth-team ''Parade'' All-American (2002) * Alabama Mr. Basketball (2002) }}
'''Kennedy Lawrence Winston''' (born July 29, 1984) is an American-Macedonian<ref>[https://basketball.latinbasket.com/player/Kennedy-Winston/55290 Nationality: USA-North Macedonia.]</ref> former professional basketball player. He is a former college basketball player with the University of Alabama. Kennedy left college one year early to pursue his dreams of playing in the NBA. He was not drafted by an NBA team in 2005, and he spent the majority of his career overseas.
==College career== Winston was a basketball star at Mattie T. Blount High School in Prichard, Alabama, where he won the Alabama Mr. Basketball award and was Gatorade's state Player Of The Year his senior year in 2002.<ref>[https://www.ahsfhs.org/Basketball/gatorade.asp Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year for Alabama]</ref> He originally signed a letter of intent to play at the University of California, but decided he needed to be closer to his ill mother. After the University of California granted him his release, he signed with the University of Alabama. He was the top scorer with the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide for two seasons and he led the SEC conference in scoring in 2005, averaging 17.9 points per game. He was also a 2-time All-SEC first team player in both 2004 and 2005. He led his team to the NCAA tournament in both 2004 and 2005, advancing as far as the Elite Eight in one of the years.
==Professional career== Winston declared for the 2005 NBA draft after his junior year, and was expected to go somewhere in the middle of the first round. But to the shock & surprise of Winston and his supporters, he wasn't drafted.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy Winston goes undrafted|url=http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20050629/NEWS/506290348|accessdate=April 17, 2014|newspaper=tuscaloosanews.com|date=June 29, 2005}}</ref> Winston worked out as an undrafted free agent for some NBA teams but eventually went to Europe to play pro ball. He played an important role for his team Panionios in the Greek League 2006–07 season, as he was the team's first scorer, averaging 14.9 points per game, plus 3.2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.3 turnovers per game in 32.3 minutes per game. He was the team's co-MVP that season, along with teammate Stratos Perperoglou, and at the end of the season they both landed contracts with the Greek power Panathinaikos.
In his first season with Panathinaikos, Winston averaged 8 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game in 19 minutes per game in the Greek League. In the 2007–08 Greek League post season, in 10 games, he averaged 5.9 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game in 16.2 minutes of play. He drew the media's attention on February 17, 2008, after scoring 26 points with 7–8 3-pointers made against Panathinaikos' archrivals Olympiacos Piraeus. With Panathinaikos he won both the Greek League and the Greek Cup titles that season.
On July 30, 2008, Winston signed with Türk Telekom of Turkey.<ref>{{cite news|title=Turk Telekom lands Kennedy Winston|url=http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/34186/3735/turk-telekom-lands-kennedy-winston|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418220839/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/34186/3735/turk-telekom-lands-kennedy-winston|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2014|accessdate=April 17, 2014|newspaper=Eurocupbasketball.com|date=July 30, 2008}}</ref> He left them in February 2009, and signed with Real Madrid for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Real Madrid signed Winston and released Hosley|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/cups/euroleague/75379/real-madrid-signed-winston-and-released-hosley.html|accessdate=April 17, 2014|newspaper=Sportando.com|date=February 24, 2009}}</ref>
In August 2009, he signed with Lottomatica Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A for the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Virtus Roma reels in small forward Kennedy Winston|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/55609/virtus-roma-reels-in-small-forward-kennedy-winston|accessdate=April 17, 2014|newspaper=Euroleague.net}}</ref> In August 2010 he signed a one-year contract for the 2010–11 season with Virtus Bologna. In November 2011, he signed a six-week contract with Telenet Oostende.<ref>{{cite news|title=Telenet Oostende signs Ken Winston to a six-week contract|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/belgium/32311/telenet-oostende-signs-ken-winston-to-a-six-week-contract.html|accessdate=August 20, 2013|newspaper=Sportando.net|date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> After contract expired he extended his contract till the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy Winston decides to stay with Telenet Oostende|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/belgium/33892/kennedy-winston-decides-to-stay-with-telenet-oostende.html|accessdate=August 20, 2013|newspaper=Sportando.net|date=January 2, 2012}}</ref>
On December 27, 2012, he signed with BCM Gravelines of France for the rest of the 2012–13 season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gravelines-Dunkerque officially tabs Kennedy Winston|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/france/48420/gravelines-dunkerque-officially-tabs-kennedy-winston.html|accessdate=August 20, 2013|newspaper=Sportando.net|date=December 27, 2012}}</ref> In August 2013, he signed a one-year deal with Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia announced Ken Winston|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/italy/serie-a/61851/grissin-bon-reggio-emilia-announced-ken-winston.html|accessdate=August 20, 2013|newspaper=Sportando.net}}</ref> Only 5 days later he was waived, because of some physical problems.<ref>{{cite web|title=Reggio Emilia waive Ken Winston|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/italy/serie-a/62190/reggio-emilia-waive-ken-winston.html|publisher=Sportando.net|accessdate=August 26, 2013}}</ref> In September 2013, he signed with Amchit Club of Lebanon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kennedy Winston now with Amchit|date=September 7, 2013 |url=http://www.court-side.com/news/blog/kennedy-winston-now-amchit/|publisher=Court-side.com|accessdate=September 7, 2013}}</ref> In January 2014, he returned to France and signed with Olympique Antibes for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy Winston added by Antibes|url=http://www.court-side.com/news/blog/kennedy-winston-added-antibes/|accessdate=April 17, 2014|newspaper=court-side.com|date=January 14, 2014}}</ref>
On November 26, 2014, Winston signed with Halcones de Xalapa of Mexico.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy Winston signs in Mexico with Halcones de Xalapa|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/142600/kennedy-winston-signs-in-mexico-with-halcones-de-xalapa.html|accessdate=November 26, 2014|work=Sportando.com|date=November 26, 2014}}</ref> In January 2015, he left the Mexican team and signed with Club Malvín of Uruguay. He helped his team to win the 2015 Uruguayan championship.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kennedy Winston|url=http://www.oneorangesports.com/?p=1190|accessdate=May 4, 2015|work=oneorangesports.com}}</ref> In May 2015, he signed with Guaiqueríes de Margarita of Venezuela for the rest of the 2015 LPB season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kenendy Winston signs with Guaiqueries de Margarita|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/161454/kenendy-winston-signs-with-guaiqueries-de-margarita.html|accessdate=May 19, 2015|work=Sportando.com|date=May 19, 2015}}</ref>
==Legal Issues== On September 10 2025, it was reported that Winston was arrested by federal authorities and charged with running what investigators called a "high-quality" fraud scheme. Winston and several others used forged drivers licenses & other stolen ID, and stolen personal information to forge and cash stolen checks (including IRS refunds and disaster relief payments) at various locations. Over $1 million in total losses were reported, according to federal investigators. Winston has pled not guilty to the charges, and at present time{{when|date=March 2026}} the investigation is continuing.<ref>[https://www.fox10tv.com/2025/09/12/testimony-former-alabama-hoops-star-used-high-quality-fake-licenses-massive-fraud/ Testimony: Former Alabama hoops star used ‘high-quality’ fake licenses in ‘massive fraud’]</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.lnb.fr/fr/Pro-A/200006/Joueurs/A34135/Kennedy-Winston LNB Pro A profile] {{in lang|fr}} *[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=pan&pcode=TFY Euroleague.net profile] *[http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8jInH7Qj1EsyH5rjn2.teamID_1002.compID_BYg5Rb55Jw-G5I3MZ6JB01.season_2007.roundID_5090.playerID_44574.html FIBAEurope.com profile] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzJv_tt6QBk&&fmt=18 Video Highlights Against Olympiacos] *[http://basketball.latinbasket.com/player/Kennedy_Winston/55290 Eurobasket.net profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20141217220800/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6034135/playerview.html FIBA.com profile]
{{Greek Basket League Top Scorers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Winston, Kennedy}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball players Category:American expatriate basketball people in Argentina Category:American expatriate basketball people in Belgium Category:American expatriate basketball people in France Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy Category:American expatriate basketball people in Lebanon Category:American expatriate basketball people in Mexico Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain Category:American expatriate basketball people in Turkey Category:American expatriate basketball people in Uruguay Category:American expatriate basketball people in Venezuela Category:Basketball players from Alabama Category:American men's basketball players Category:BC Oostende players Category:BCM Gravelines players Category:CB Gran Canaria players Category:Club Malvín basketball players Category:Guaiqueríes de Margarita players Category:Halcones de Xalapa players Category:Liga ACB players Category:Macedonian men's basketball players Category:Olympique Antibes basketball players Category:Panathinaikos B.C. players Category:Panionios B.C. players Category:Parade High School All-Americans (boys' basketball) Category:Peñarol de Mar del Plata basketball players Category:People from Prichard, Alabama Category:Sportspeople from Mobile County, Alabama Category:Real Madrid Baloncesto players Category:Shooting guards Category:Small forwards Category:Türk Telekom B.K. players Category:Virtus Bologna players Category:Virtus Roma players Category:Amchit Club players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen