Standout Student: Brooklyn Center High School’s Rudwan Tahir
Rudwan Tahir excels in the classroom and on the basketball court at Brooklyn Center High School. Because of that he is this week’s CCX News Standout Student.
Tahir is a guard on the Brooklyn Center Centaurs basketball team. It’s a team that made the state tournament for the first time since 1983.
“It was more than I thought it would be,” Tahir said.
Playing in an NBA arena was a treat and a thrill for Tahir
“It was special,” Tahir said. “Playing at Target Center on the court, it was different, having the light on you.”
In the classroom, Tahir is a shining star too.
“Rudy is the student you want in every class,” said Andrea Kemink, a teacher at Brooklyn Center High School.
He is able to juggle books with basketball and keep his GPA up.
“Right away from the beginning we knew that Rudy was special because of his maturity,” Kemink said. “His maturity in the classroom. His maturity on the court. His maturity with his work is second to none. There’s nobody else like him.”
Tahir is also in Brooklyn Center’s post-secondary enrollment options program (PSEO).
“His teammates definitely look up to him, being able to do basketball and his PSEO,” Kemink said.
He actually takes some courses at the University of Minnesota and North Hennepin Community College.
“He’s our only sophomore taking PSEO classes in the entire building,” Kemink said. “He’s able to balance basketball and his grades. He’s still maintained A’s and B’s.”
Tahir thrives in any situation. He is just as comfortable on the hardwood as he is in class.
“If he’s doing what the teacher is asking, then the rest of the kids are doing the same,” Kemink said.
Tahir loves to write and hopes to play college hoops. But, if that doesn’t pan out, he has a couple back up plans.
“Some days I want to be a doctor,” Tahir said. “Some days I want to be a computer engineer. I don’t know, it’s all over the place right now.”
“He’s going to be successful in his career,” Tahir said. “Because he is a mature hard worker and a great person too.”
Brooklyn Center High School