The last name Durant has a storied history in the Lakelands. Davon Durant played linebacker at Marshall. Mataeo Durant was an All-ACC First Team selection and holds the single-season rushing record at Duke. A’chean Durant is currently playing at Benedict College. Now, it’s Camden Durant’s time to shine.
Being the cousin of Davon, Mataeo and A’chean Durant, carrying on the family legacy is everything to Camden Durant.
“It’s a lot of pressure to carry,” said Camden Durant. “I just want to do what I can do to carry on the legacy.”
Camden Durant had the privilege of playing with his cousin, A’chean, for two seasons at McCormick. A’chean Durant was an all-region and all-state running back at McCormick, and now plays at Benedict College. According to Camden Durant, A’chean Durant taught him the true meaning of hard work.
“(A’chean) really taught me how to work hard,” said Camden Durant. “He taught me to go hard in every practice and every game.”
Camden Durant, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker is primed for a big season in 2023. Being ranked eighth on the SK Media Player Watch List and second on the SK Media Top 10 Linebackers List, the hype is high for the Chiefs’ defensive leader.
“(Camden Durant’s) a student of the game, he asks questions that nobody else asks,” said McCormick head coach Leroy Collier. “In my eyes, he’s the quarterback of the defense. He’s the total package defensively.”
Durant has lived up to the hype so far this season, being a nightmare for offenses and causing disruption in the backfield. Most recently, Durant led the Chiefs defense to a shoutout victory over Thornwell Charter School 52-0.
Durant excels on more than just the gridiron, however. He’s brilliant in the classroom as well. Durant will be walking across the stage with an Associate’s Degree from Piedmont Technical College before he even graduates high school.
“He’s very disciplined and you can tell that from what he does in the classroom,” said Collier. “He can get into any school he wants to, academically.”
To go along with being one of the best linebackers in the state, Durant also excels on the basketball court and throwing the javelin. He averaged seven points and four rebounds last season on the court for the Chiefs, and placed fourth at the SCHSL 1A State Championships in boys javelin.
“He knows exactly what he’s capable of,” said Collier. “He knows his strengths, he knows his weaknesses, and he’s comfortable sharing his weaknesses, something that took me years to do.”