Senior forward Cory McKendree of the men’s basketball team at St. Edward’s got to ride off into the sunset as the last Heartland Conference champion ever as the team prepares to transition to the Lone Star conference next year.

McKendree is the only senior departing from the stacked roster that made it to the Sweet 16 this past season. The forward leaves St. Edward’s as second in all-time blocks in program history and will be missed in many more ways than his on-court performance, according to head coach Andre Cook.

“With him in practice, he’s always talking, always trying to make sure everyone’s alright. But you’re not going to hear him a lot. He more checks on guys here, checks on a couple guys here, he’ll meet with the guys about making sure everyone’s on the same page, and he did a fantastic job,” Cook said. “He’s going to leave as a captain of the team that had so many records, awards and you can never take that away from him.”

As the team finished the season with an impressive 30-4 record, McKendree talked about what this season meant to him both on and off the court.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling. I got to leave St. Edward’s on top by winning a Conference Championship and achieving the goals we set when I came in as a freshman,’ McKendree said. “It hurts I’ll never get to play this sport with my best friends, but I’m thankful for the four years I’ve had here on the Hilltop and wouldn’t trade it in for the world.”

McKendree has impacted the program in many ways and took advantage of the university’s opportunities as he will be finishing school with a 3.7 GPA as a Kinesiology major with a Sports Management concentration and Business minor.

“Great student, terrific kid. He cares about others. All those things that you want as part of your program, that’s who Cory McKendree is,” Cook said.

Lucas Doria, junior forward and McKendree’s roommate since freshman year, is going to miss his best friend when he laces up his shoes when practice gets started next school year.

“Cory is one of those guys that always did positive things for the team on and off the court. He is a great friend and a teammate who will always offer a helping hand. He is an example of hard work, leadership and friendship,” Doria said. “He has been one of my best friends since day one, my biggest fan and biggest critic. He always pushed me to be the best I could be, and I always knew I could count on him for anything. He truly is more than a teammate and more like a brother.”

Cook also mentioned how much McKendree’s departure will mean to him,

“We will miss him being around here every day at practice, popping into my office during those four years. Sometimes you take those times for granted and then they end abruptly like that and they’re gone.”

McKendree will miss his teammates, coaches and friends come graduation in May, but the one thing he’ll miss the most will be “the brotherhood and camaraderie you get from being a part of a team.”