Former Irvine Valley women's basketball player Kennedy Pucci was not only a star on the court, but also in the classroom.
The current Hope International University student-athlete was recently named part of the 2022-23 California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll for achievements at Irvine Valley.
With nearly 24,000 student-athletes in the 3C2A, the accomplishment is something to be extremely proud of.
Pucci will be honored at the 3C2A Scholar-Athlete Luncheon on Wed., Mar. 27 as part of the annual 3C2A Convention in Sacramento.
Pucci was named Irvine Valley's women's scholar athlete of the year for 2022-23. She was a 4.0 grade point average student-athlete for the Lasers.
She signed with NAIA Hope International after starting for the Lasers for two seasons.
Pucci, out of Glendora High, played in all 30 of IVC's games in 2022-23 and started 28 contests.
Pucci was named first team all-Orange Empire Conference and the defensive player of the year in the OEC for an IVC team that finished with a record of 21-9 overall and 8-4 in conference in the 2022-23 season.
The Lasers reached the California Community College Athletic Association So. Cal. Regional Final.
Pucci averaged 9.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game on the year and scored in double figures in 14 contests.
She was also a key player on the 2021-22 IVC team that finished with 26 wins (26-3), captured its fourth OEC title in a row and made the semifinals of the CCCAA State Tournament. IVC was ranked as high as No. 1 in So. Cal in the coaches' poll that season.
"Her athletic and academic success and subsequent transfer as a pre-Physical Therapy student and student-athlete make her an easy choice for IVC," Irvine Valley Dean and Athletic Director Keith Shackleford said in the nomination. "Kennedy was instrumental in sustaining IVC's basketball success.
"Thanks in large part to her intelligence, focus, and work ethic, Kennedy's calming influence and quiet intensity led her team to another remarkable year. Obviously, her athletic skill sets were extraordinary, but to maintain that level of academic achievement for two years, shines an entirely different light on her accomplishments."
Pucci is also deeply involved in serving the community. Her youth coaching (since before she entered Irvine Valley) and membership in IVC AC/DC (the student driven advisory group to the AD) are examples of her continued commitment on all fronts.
