Back in the mid-2000s, the East St. John High boys basketball team made lots of headlines, and a lot of them were about Kenner.

No, not Kenner, the place.

Kenner, the player.

Jamaan Kenner was a standout basketball player at East St. John High back in the day, and not just because he was 6-foot-4.

The LaPlace youngster averaged more than 16 points per game and was one of St. John Parish’s best when it came to 3-point shooting and defense.

He also did a little work on the track as a high jumper.

A brief tour through the L’OBSERVATEUR archives show Kenner scored 20 points in a win over Glen Oaks, but 16 points wasn’t enough to topple perennial powerhouse Helen Cox during his senior year.

His play was strong enough to earn him a spot on the 2008 L’OBSERVATEUR All-St. John Parish team.

It also got him a nice scholarship offer from Xavier University, which he said he selected over Loyola and William & Mary because of the sciences the school offered.

You see it wasn’t just about basketball for Kenner.

Excuse me, make that Doctor Kenner.

Ever since he took his first biology class, Kenner has wanted to be a doctor.

“It was a college-level class,” Kenner said in a 2012 interview. “We were studying the body. I was intrigued.”

Already a stellar student athlete at East St. John, Kenner went on to an equally exceptional academic career at Xavier, maintaining a 3.62 grade point average.

He didn’t just help the team win 16 of 22 games his senior season and earn a spot in the school’s top 15 for 3-point goals (he finished with 95), he did it while taking — and passing — classes like organic chemistry and applying for medical schools.

“It took a lot of sacrifices,” Kenner said. “While a lot of my teammates were probably out doing other things, I was studying. This was something I wanted to do so that’s what I needed to do.”

After four years at Xavier, Kenner was accepted to the LSU School of Medicine in 2012, with lofty dreams of becoming — what else — a sports doctor.

Of course, things can change.

Kenner graduated last May and is now in the midst of a two-year residency as an OB/GYN.

“In your third year of medical school you rotate through all the different specialties,” he said.

“It was the only rotation I really liked. I like being in the operating room and I like having that continuity with patients.”

There’s also nothing else like bringing a baby into the world, he said.

“I’ve delivered 220 babies so far,” he said, proudly.

After he finishes his residency, Kenner said he plans to seek a two-year fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery to hone his skills in laparoscopic and robotic surgery.

Sadly, there’s no more basketball for Kenner.

After serving as the ringer on the medical school team, Kenner tore his Achilles tendon during a pick-up game last year.

“I haven’t played since,” he said.

Kenner is used to adapting to challenges.

That fascinating biology class he took was when he was a student at Jesuit High School in New Orleans.

After Hurricane Katrina devastated the area, Kenner transferred to East St. John as a sophomore.

“It was easier on my family because I lived in LaPlace and that was a tough commute,” he said.

Now, even though he’s tired, Kenner said he is living his dream.

“This is what I always wanted to do,” he said.

“There were times when it was tough and I was tired and I asked myself if I still wanted to do this. You just have to get through it. It’s all about the goal.”

Lori Lyons is sports editor at L’OBSERVATEUR. She can be reached at 985-652-9545 or lori.lyons@lobservateur.com.