Brayden Kyman latest in family to play at Pauley Pavilion
When you’re a sportswriter covering high school sports in Southern California since the 1970s, you meet lots of sports families who come and go.
It’s going to be the end of an era for one of my favorite families, the Kymans. Bernie was the patriarch. He coached and was athletic director at so many high schools he could have worn a different mascot shirt every day for weeks. He was at Daniel Murphy, Los Angeles, St. Bonaventure, Moorpark, Chaminade (twice), Bishop Alemany, Littlerock, Cal Lutheran and Pierce College (twice).
His son, Coley, became a star in football and volleyball at Reseda in the 1980s, then the starting quarterback at Cal State Northridge and a Hall of Fame volleyball player for the Matadors. Coley’s wife, Michelle, won a national championship playing for UCLA’s women’s volleyball team. They had two sons, Jake and Brayden.
Jake helped Santa Margarita win a Southern Section Division 1 basketball championship in 2019, then spent three years at UCLA before transferring to Eastern Washington.
The last of the Kymans is Brayden, a 6-foot-7 senior at Santa Margarita and a Washington State commit who will get to play on Saturday for the first time where his father, mother and brother once played — UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion. Santa Margarita faces Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in a 7 p.m. basketball game as part of a daylong showcase.
“Once I saw it on the schedule, I was really grateful and super excited,” Brayden said. “My brother played there, my parents played there. It’s kind of a full circle moment.”
His grandfather died in 2019 at the age of 78. Brayden said he learned plenty from a man who always believed in character and commitment.
“He taught me a lot and my dad, which was passed down to me — working hard and staying focused on what you want to do in life,” he said.
His parents both played professionally in volleyball, so they’ve been good role models and sounding boards for what to expect in the college journey.
“They always give me the best advice, whether it’s about recovery or a game,” he said. “They support me.”
Santa Margarita returns four starters this season and began the season as the No. 2-ranked team in the Southland by The Times. Kyman has already accomplished something few other top players are doing these days — staying from freshman season through senior season.
“It’s gone by super fast,” he said. “I remember yesterday I was a freshman. I’m grateful for the experience to be here all four years. I know that’s not as common now.”
After Brayden graduates, his parents are moving to Montana. It allows them to drive some five hours to his games in Pullman, Wash., while enjoy being away from big-city life. Just don’t expect Brayden to hang out in Montana. He makes it clear he’s a California boy for life.
“I think it’s crazy,” he said. “I’ve lived in the same house [in Aliso Vijeo] my whole life. I’m going to visit for a few days but not a whole week.”
He can also visit his brother, Jake, who’s living in Austin, Texas, and is a filmmaker. Brayden wants to keep playing basketball for as long as he can, then become a coach or trainer.
It’s been wonderful to see the Kymans make their mark in Southern California sports history.
Day session Saturday at Pauley Pavilion
Servite vs. Loyola, 9:30 a.m.
Orange Lutheran vs. St. Francis, 11 a.m.
Crean Lutheran vs. Campbell Hall, 12:30 p.m.
Mater Dei vs. Crespi, 2 p.m.
Night Session
JSerra vs. Sierra Canyon, 5:30 p.m.
Santa Margarita vs. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
St. John Bosco vs. Harvard-Westlake, 8:30 p.m.