After twin brothers Kyree and Kylan Cunningham helped Munford win its first basketball district title in five years last February, several college recruiters emerged looking to secure the services of one, or both, of the Cunninghams.
For a while it looked like the two might play on different teams for the first time, but in the end they decided to stay together. The 6-0 guards signed scholarship papers with Bethel University Tuesday morning at Munford High School in front of a slew of family members, classmates, teammates and coaches.
“There was big possibility we were going to go our separate ways because we had different opportunities,” Kyree said. “We just decided after talking to each other to do this.”
“It’s going to be fun playing with him again,” said Kylan. “I was hoping to play against him but that didn’t work out. It was God’s plan, I guess.”
The Cunningham brothers, along with a strong senior class, helped resurrect the Munford basketball program over the past four seasons. When Ryan Ross was hired as the team’s head coach four seasons ago, the team was coming off a four-win season.
Munford got better each year and the turnaround culminated last season as the Cougars went 22-10 and advanced all the way to the region semifinals, one win away from a sectional berth.
Kyree was the district tournament MVP after scoring 20 points in the title game win over Dyer County and Kylan was named to the all-tournament team.
Kylan is most comfortable running the point and Kyree excels off the ball as a slasher and perimeter shooter. Both are lock-down defenders.
“Defensively they’re both similar and really good,” Ross said. “I think that’s something that was attractive to a lot of people at the next level.”
Kyree is more outspoken than his brother but the two played very well together and figure to take that chemistry to Bethel.
“They really pulled for each other,” Ross said. “If that gym was open they were in there working and they were working together. I’m sure there’s some sibling rivalry like there always is, but I also think that helped push them to be the players they are.”
