Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Schenley High School basketball players, from left, DeJuan Blair, Jamal Bryant and D.J. Kennedy could lead the Spartans to a PIAA Class AAAA championship. Click photo for larger image. Related chart Top City League basketball trios

One is called "Onion," a nickname bestowed upon him as a youth because of the shape of his head.

One goes by the initials "D.J." It is short for his first name David and his middle name, which he is too embarrassed to reveal.

The third likes to be called "Big Fella." He has the words tattooed on his left arm.

Two years ago as freshmen, Onion, D.J. and Big Fella all descended from the Hill District to Schenley High School, teenagers trying to make a name for themselves -- and Schenley. Call them the Triple Value Combo. You get small, medium and large all in one order -- and the trio is absolutely delicious on the basketball court.

The small is Jamaal "Onion" Bryant, a 5-foot-9, 140-pound point guard. The medium is D.J. Kennedy, a 6-5, 200-pound swingman. The large is "Big Fella" DeJuan Blair, a 6-7, 250-pound force who has dropped 30 pounds since the start of the season.

They are three close friends who have brought plenty of attention back to City League basketball, drawing comparisons to other triple-threat acts over the years. Blair and Kennedy are Division I college prospects. Former Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins was at Schenley a few weeks ago, putting Blair and Kennedy through a workout.

Blair, Kennedy and Bryant led Schenley to its second consecutive City League title and the Spartans were undefeated in league play for the second consecutive year. And maybe it is only appropriate the Triple Value Combo comes from the Hill, because these three juniors are hoping to lead Schenley to the top of the mountain in Pennsylvania high school basketball, a place where no City League team has been in decades.

Written on one of Kennedy's shoes are these words: "Every time I do it, I do it for my hood. Big playerz make big plays."

It has been 28 years since a City League team won the PIAA title in the largest classification. That was Schenley in 1978. Perry, another City League team, won a PIAA title in 1991, but it was in Class AAA, the second-largest classification.

"People in the City are counting on us, telling us, 'This is the year for y'all.' That's OK," Blair said. "We think we have a great chance."

Step No. 1 is at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow when Schenley (26-1) meets Bethel Park (21-6) in a PIAA Class AAAA first-round game at Allderdice. Schenley's goal of a PIAA title seems realistic.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News ranks the Spartans the No. 2 Class AAAA team in the state behind Harrisburg. Schenley proved some things last year when sophomores Blair, Bryant and Kennedy helped push the Spartans to the quarterfinals before losing to Erie Cathedral Prep.

Cathedral Prep is back in the PIAA tournament this year. Harrisburg and Plymouth-Whitemarsh are other tough draws on Schenley's side of the bracket.

"We're good, but I don't really know if we know how good we are yet," Kennedy said.

Bryant quickly chimed in. "We're about to find out."

There seems to be little question how good this trio is in terms of talent. Kennedy's father was part of a talented group 30 years ago at Fifth Avenue High School. David "Puffy" Kennedy, Sam Clancy and Bill Clarke helped Fifth Avenue to the 1976 PIAA Class AAA title and all three went on to play Division I college basketball. The team's point guard, Warner Macklin, also was a standout.

"These three now are as good as anybody in a while," said Allderdice coach Buddy Valinsky, who played for and graduated from Allderdice in 1978. "You could probably compare them to D.J.'s dad, Sam and Warnie. DeJuan might be just as good as Sam. He's definitely as intimidating. D.J. is probably as good, if not better, than his dad."

Blair averages 17.5 points and 13 rebounds and Kennedy 16.8 points. Bryant averages about 10 per game.

J.O. Stright coaches Blair, Kennedy and Bryant on the Pittsburgh J.O.T.S. AAU team that finished second in the national tournament last year.

"I think DeJuan and D.J. will both end up at high Division I schools," Stright said.

Pitt is interested in Kennedy and Blair but hasn't offered scholarships yet. Xavier is interested in both. Blair said Wake Forest, Tennessee, North Carolina State and West Virginia are among the other schools showing interest, but added he and Kennedy are not a package deal.

It's unlikely Bryant will go to a Division I college because of his size, but Schenley coach Fred Skrocki said: "I think Onion is kind of like the glue holding everything together. You have to have a good point guard. I don't know where we would be if we didn't have Onion out there doing some of the things he does."

Blair, Bryant and Kennedy can be fun to watch. Bryant could be on ESPN's "Streetball" show the way he handles the ball. He and Blair have a favorite play on a fastbreak where Bryant throws the ball off the backboard and Blair slams it.

"The thing that's nice about them is their unselfishness and their will to win," Skrocki said. "A lot of kids want to play basketball. These kids enjoy playing it."

Valinsky said: "The thing that makes them unusual is they're all good, but they all play different positions. Plus, they all grew up together and come from the same part of town. That's a nice story because it's unlike all the other sports where kids come from all over town. I think that's something that should be mentioned."

Bryant said, "We're putting the Hill back on the map."

Bryant, Blair and Kennedy are close friends. Their closeness and sense of humor came out in an interview after practice earlier this week.

Who's the favorite among the girls?

"Oh, that's me," Bryant said proudly. "It would be D.J., but he's too picky."

Who eats the most?

"You might not believe it, but it's Onion," Blair said. "You should see him eat. Look at his body, though. I have no idea where it all goes."

Biggest trash-talker?

"Definitely him," Kennedy said, pointing to Blair.

When asked for an example, Kennedy said, "We played Perry this year and someone blocked Onion's shot. DeJuan got the ball, scored, got fouled and went right up to the kid and said, 'Try doing that to me.' "

People might be surprised to know that you ...

"That I'm an honor roll student," said Kennedy, who has a 3.5 grade-point average.

Bryant said, "That I can dance."

Blair thought for a while before saying "That I can rap."

"You can't rap," Bryant said.

"Can, too," Blair said. "All right, people would be surprised to know I sing, rap ... and like English class. I like to write."