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Kinds was multisport standout at Ringgold

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When Jamont Kinds graduated from Ringgold in 1995, he was known more for his basketball exploits as a key starter on the Rams’ state championship team. It was football, however, that Kinds played in college as a member of the team at Syracuse University, when the Orangemen were still in the Big East Conference.

But his story goes deeper as Kinds was a three-sport standout at Ringgold. Kinds also excelled in track and field.

For his all-around accomplishments, Kinds was inducted Friday night as a member of the six-person class of inductees to the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame.

Kinds, who is a District Sales Coordinator for Aflac, was emotional and thankful during his induction speech.

“This is about the whole team, and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you because you always need your family,” Kinds said while pointing toward his family and trying to control his emotions. “For all of the work we put in, this means a lot.”

A Big School Second Team All-State defensive back his senior season at Ringgold, Kinds was listed as one of the top 60 defensive backs by Street & Smith’s magazine. Kinds also played quarterback for the Rams and was a threat both running and passing.

On the basketball court, Kinds was a three-year starter as a small forward and nearly became a member of the school’s 1,000-point club, finishing with 939 in career points. He averaged 14.7 points per game as a senior and helped the Rams to the PIAA Class AAAA championship in 1995, scoring 27 points, on 9-for-16 shooting, in Ringgold’s 71-66 victory over Williamsport in the title game at the Hersheypark Arena.

In track, he made it to states his junior year. At the end of his senior year, Kinds was a Mid Mon Valley All-Sports Hall of Fame scholar-athlete honoree.

At Syracuse, Kinds helped the Orangemen to multiple Big East crowns and played in the Liberty Bowl, the Orange Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.

An injury cut short his career at Syracuse, but Kinds played for the Johnstown Riverhawks of the American Indoor Football League and then played a year of semi-pro ball for the Pittsburgh Colts.

Kinds credited his coaches with helping him become the dominant player that he was both at the high school and college season.

“The coaches I’ve had through high school and college were all great as leaders, not only on the playing surface, but in life as well, and I may not have realized it while playing,” he said. “I look back now and see the messages that each one passed on to me with the first being diligence, the second being discipline and the third was to become humble. The outcome is who I am today.”

Kinds closed his speech with a smile and showed some pride for his hometown.

“I, Jamont Kinds, from Donora, the Home of the Champions, accept this honor,” he said with his words receiving a thunderous applause.

Other members inducted Friday night were standout Belle Vernon and California University basketball player Vince Graham, who finished fourth all-time in scoring in the WPIAL with 2,429 points, Ernest “Roger” Hotz from California, the late John Konek from California, Charleroi and Pitt football standout Dan LaCarte and former Monessen, Akron and Philadelphia Eagles running back Jamie Reader.

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