Kahliel Spear ready to take next step for Robert Morris basketball
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Robert Morris was pulling away from Northern Kentucky in an important Horizon League men’s basketball matchup last season.
Point guard Michael Green III was trying to make a play and found forward Kahliel Spear waiting to spark the Colonials.
“I didn’t see how (Green III) was going to get out of the double team,” Spear said. “He found a way, and he stepped through and as soon as he gave me the ball, I knew I was dunking it regardless if there was going to be somebody there, and he just happened to be there.”
Spear swiftly dunked over Norse defender Trey Robinson to extend the lead en route to a 74-64 victory.
It wasn’t Spear’s only highlight-reel dunk of the season. He delivered many jams — and appeared on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” highlights — and had a career year.
Spear spearheaded the Robert Morris offense, averaging 14.7 points and 7.7 rebounds to earn All-Horizon League third team honors. He finished 11th in scoring and fourth in rebounding in the Horizon League. He also finished fifth in blocks, notching 1.1 per game for the Colonials, who finished 8-24 overall and 5-16 in league play.
“It just shows that your work pays off,” Spear said. “I didn’t always have an opportunity like this, and there were times when I didn’t know when I will get the opportunity but you always want to work. Preparation meets opportunity, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Spear credits his success last season to his dedication to basketball.
“I feel like my preparation has gotten me ready for this moment and last year some of this showed, but I know that was not my full potential,” Spear said. “I have more that I can do, and that was just a small show.”
Spear was also successful in the classroom, becoming the first RMU basketball player to be named an Academic All-American. He also was selected to the Horizon League All-Academic Team.
Being a cornerstone of the Colonials’ offense didn’t happen overnight. The Colony, Texas, native was surrounded by a basketball family.
His parents, Danita and LeRonne, played basketball and introduced him to the sport. It wasn’t until his junior year of high school that he excelled.
His cousin, Nia Coffey, plays for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA. His brother, Dakari, also plays and his sister, Jewel Spear, was the ACC’s leading scorer last season at Wake Forest.
“It’s awesome to me because she’s getting the exposure, and everybody else is seeing it because even though she was touted coming out of high school, she still didn’t have the respect that I felt she deserved,” Spear said. “She won’t say that because she’s humble, but she’s putting on herself and she’s doing what all of us know she can do.”
Spear played other sports growing up. including baseball, football, swimming and track and field, but basketball was his top priority. Spear played for Lonestar Elite and attributes his early success to coach Darius Coleman.
“He showed me what my capabilities were,” Spear said. “Obviously, they weren’t sharp, and then I was only a junior in high school but you could just see the glimpses that there was something there and he showed that to me. It gave me the confidence that I needed because that summer is when I got my first offers going into my senior year.”
Spear accepted a scholarship offer to play in the Patriot League for Bucknell.
He quickly adjusted to the college game and helped the Bison reach the Patriot League Championship. Despite losing to Colgate, it was a memory Spear said he won’t forget.
The Bison went 14-20 the season after, and Spear played in 32 games as a role player. He entered the transfer portal going into his junior season and found a home at Robert Morris.
The Colonials won the Northeast Conference in 2020 before transitioning the Horizon League for the 2020-21 season. Spear started 10 out of 18 games in his junior season after transferring from Bucknell. As a senior last season, he started in all 32 games.
Spear made the decision to return for a fifth season, using the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility. He said he loves playing for coach Andy Toole because of the energy he brings and how he gets the most out of all his players.
“We all go in his office some days, and we’ll just talk about things that I see and things that he sees,” Spear said. “We can have conversations that need to be had without either of us getting frustrated, so it’s a healthy relationship. It’s something that I feel is going to help us be successful this year as well.”
Spear and the Colonials will try and build on a solid finish that included a victory over Youngstown State in the Horizon League Tournament.
“We’re focusing on defense and rebounding because those are things we can control,” Spear said. “We really want to be a team that just shuts down and wears down other teams, and we know we have offensive talent and we have guys that can get it done on the other end but we just got to be solid on the defensive and that’s where we lacked a lot last year.”
Spear knows it won’t be easy but has high expectations for the team and himself.
“I want to make an all-conference first team and be in the running for player of the year,” Spear said. “It’s my final year, so I’m going to go out with a bang, and I’m looking to make a run for a player of the year. That’s my biggest goal personally, but I want to win a championship with my team and go to March Madness.”