Virgin Islands professional basketball player, Kleon C. Penn aka ‘BigKle’ has been named a Top 5 Centre of the Decade in the Puerto Rico professional basketball league. Photo: Facebook/File

To be named one of the top 5 big men in the Puerto Rico professional league for the decade was truly an ‘honour’ for Kleon C. Penn. Photo: Facebook/BSN

The starting Centre for the Virgin Islands National Team, Kleon C. Penn aka ‘BigKle’ is one of the most experienced and travelled players for the Territory, having also plied his trade in Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Photo: VINO/File

Penn, who tried out for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015, currently plays for Brujos de Guayama of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

The 7’0” Centre was early in 2019 recognised as the top shot blocker of all time in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional.

An honour

“That is an honour because in Puerto Rico you have so many great centers coming through and to be listed as one of the top 5 big men in the league for the decade was truly an honour,” Mr Penn told Dean H. Greenaway aka ‘The Sportsman’ in a video published on Facebook.

Asked if he was surprised at the accolade, Mr Penn said he was.

“I saw them doing it for the point guards and the forwards and everything but I wasn’t really thinking about me being included in it.”

Mr Penn said there are some great names in the league, which has made his honouring “awesome”.

Experienced player

The starting Centre for the Virgin Islands National Team is one of the most experienced and travelled players for the Territory, having also plied his trade in Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Penn was available as a draft player for the NBA in 2009 but after he was not picked up by any teams, he was drafted by Caciques de Humacao in the BSN in Puerto Rico and has also played for Vaqueros de Bayamon in the BSN.