Kaymen Cureton

 Leuzinger's Star Hungry for Success

Only only a few teams in their vicinity rival them but Leuzinger is back at the forefront of the South Bay football spotlight. For the last three years, the Olympians have been a team that has steadily improved and are now on the cusp of winning a CIF championship. They returned 15 starters and were instant favorites to make the playoffs. At 10-2, their senior quarterback Kaymen Cureton who brings a calming presence leads them. He is extremely gifted at 6'2, 200 pounds. Cureton can burn you with his legs or pick you apart with his arms. He has compiled 2,713 passing yards, 332 rushing yards, and 31 total touchdowns. Cureton describes himself as conscious, having bravado, and God-fearing. Those traits simply radiate off of him as a player and through the conversations we had.

 

I went to Leuzinger’s first playoff game a few weeks ago against Apple Valley in a 43-36 thriller. Heading into the game, all I heard was that the Olympians were really talented and had this highly touted quarterback. I got to the game just as the fourth quarter had started and I saw the score was close. I immediately thought “man if Leuzinger is this good why are they struggling in the first round?” Anyway the game wore on and it looked as though Apple Valley would pull off the upset. You know that saying, “pressure makes diamonds?” Well that night Cureton became a diamond as we led Leuzinger down the field with less than two minutes as he found Danthony Jones for the game-winner. He showed great poise for a guy staring down the gun barrel of defeat.

Cureton is able to play so composed despite being a high school quarterback because of his faith in God. His parents helped him realize that God is the "creator and beholder of all things." His faith helps him stay grounded and realize anything is possible. Also, he is the nephew of Tony Gwynn who instilled a great deal of wisdom in Cureton. His composure could also be attributed to the fact that he is a four-year starter. He played his first three years at quarterback for LA High. He led the Romans to the 2015 CIF Championship game where they lost. The loss humbled him as he referred to the game as being one of his worst performances.

Cureton would go on to transfer to Leuzinger before the 2016 season in a stunning move. With players like Antonio Haygood, Demontti Peoples, Andre Hunt, Victor Perez, and Sioeli Pulu returning, Cureton's addition made them the prohibitive favorites in Division 10. He felt like Leuzinger's spread offense gave him a better opportunity to get the exposure he needed to go to college. Cureton does, however, prefer the pro-style because its what is being ran in the NFL. He compares his playing style to Dak Prescott and his passion comparable to Sean Taylor. When asking about school, he said, "I enjoy school (Leuzinger). I mean its a fun well-established learning environment, with a lot of cool students and genuine staff."

"The Duke" started playing ball when he was 8-years old, but, as any young kid, he did not take it seriously. He realized football could get him to college and bring joy to his family as well as those close to him. Cureton was preparing himself for the mental and physical aspects of football at 12. As a freshman, he was a starter at LA High where he suffered plenty of mistakes early on. I mean who would not make mistakes at the age of 14? At that age most teenagers do not even know what they will be doing in five minutes. Fast forward a few years later, Cureton is a high school phenom with schools like LSU, San Diego State, Alabama, and Boston College offering him a scholarship. He is currently committed to San Jose State, but he is open to other schools. He labels this as being the most "vital" decision of his life. Cureton said, "I would say the hardest the thing about choosing a school is the aspect of trust. You have to grasp an understanding of authenticity not only with the coaching staff, but the guys amongst you too. The ones (schools) that you continue to build your brand at as an individual and with as a program. You want to be where you are most comfortable, somewhere that translates to the professional level. You have to understand that college football is and will always remain a business." No matter where he goes, Cureton wants to get a degree in business or journalism.

There is still a lot of work to be done on the field for this Olympian. Cureton hopes to bring Leuzinger another CIF championship, grow as a young man, network with people, and build his brand. Despite being quiet, he is hungry for success and I would simply describe him as a "Humble Beast." To the people that think this young man is all hype, Cureton has a few words for you: "God bless."

Good luck to Cureton and the Olympians as they continue to hunt for their ring.