Rising Stars: Meet Ky’Wuan Dukes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ky’Wuan Dukes.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in Charleston SC and raised mostly in Statesville, NC. The Southside of Statesville to be exact, I lived on Fourth & 5th street, which is known for everything that you see in movies. From murder to drugs and all types of violence, I was surrounded by all of this since a young age. I got to where I am today by staying focused and self-determination! Coming from where I come from I definitely didn’t want to be a statistic In a negative manner, only positive. I signed my college letter of intent on the corner of my neighborhood to motivate the young boys & girls just like me that college was possible, really just positive success in general. I give credit to my family, supporters, and loved ones for supporting and showing me love even through tough times, that helped me as well. Extra work and different levels of critical thinking helped me get where I am today and where I am going… my journey isn’t nowhere near close to ending. I plan on making history in many ways, on and off the field during my debut year this year at JCSU. My mother & grandmother being strong working woman always made me want to have a work ethic within myself. Words of encouragement from my uncles, grandfather, and stepfather helped me gain wisdom to be ahead.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Some struggles along the way would be going through adversity. Living where I lived, it was pretty tough like any other hood, just smaller where everybody knows everybody & where to find everybody. My mother being shot twice was one of the biggest eye-openers in my life, first turning me cold but then bringing me the ambition to get her far away from here. My uncles and family mostly all being incarcerated is a part of the bumpy road. House shootings, close ones dying rather it was to gun violence or natural causes like my grandfather (rip). Moving from house to house, sometimes staying in a hotel was pretty rough but as a kid, I never looked at it like that. Me and my family weren’t the closest, but we knew when it was time to lock in and all we had at many times. Going through that just made me hungry and determined to never stop no matter the situation! I feel like it can be worst, but some small things don’t relate to the hard things I’ve been through so I make sure I handle it with no problem.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a student-athlete who is also a brand ambassador/influencer for many brands worldwide. Including Bojangles, DoorDash, Goat Fuel, and many more other brands that I’ve been blessed to campaign for. I’m known for being the first HBCU athlete to sign and an endorsement deal with Bojangles. What sets me apart is my past/future, hard work and ability to adapt no matter what. My networking skills, content creation, and influence is another thing much different from others. I have influence in my community, touching base with young kids uplifting them, training with them, and being that person I didn’t have then to do positive. I’m striving to open my mother a cooking restaurant, soon a food truck, and expanding throughout the world. That keeps me going as well, I live for more than just myself, I live for my Family, my future children, and loved ones through the strength of god.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Motivation, Ambition, Integrity, Effort, Determination, Pained, and Humbled.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kdapparell.com
• Instagram: Souljakd3
• Twitter: Kyupnext3

Image Credits
@jorgetorres