Kadeem Walcott was supposed to be a backup as a sophomore, but Vinny Laino’s reluctance to using the 5-4 Walcott as an everydown running back quickly disappeared.

“Jayson Bayne was going to be the guy that year, between I put Kadeem in, I knew I couldn’t take him out,” the Ft. Hamilton coach said. “He was finding holes that weren’t even there. Since then, there’s been no looking back.” Walcott has become one of the most prolific backs in PSAL history, yet for all his success on the football field, Saturday’s PSAL title game against Curtis may be his last competitive game on the gridiron.

The senior is also a standout shortstop for the Tigers and is considering playing baseball in college.

“I’m hoping to play both,” Walcott said at a press conference yesterday for the upcoming game, which will be at Midwood at noon and broadcast on MSG on Sunday.

“But if baseball works out for me, I’ll just do that.” It’s a choice the Flatbush resident isn’t looking forward to.

“That will be the biggest decision of my life,” Walcott said. “I have no idea what I’m going to do.” He will be hard-pressed to make a bad one. This season, Walcott has rushed for 1914 yards and scored a total of 36 touchdowns for the 12-0 Tigers.

“He’s from another planet,” said Curtis head coach Fred Olivieri, whose defense has allowed just one touchdown all season.

“No one has stopped him all year. To have any hope, you have to have a great defensive scheme.” Opposing pitchers haven’t had much more success in containing him, as Walcott hit .424 in the regular season and was 5-for-7 with a homer, four runs scored and four RBIs in three playoff games a year ago.

For now, his only concern is the championship game, as Ft. Hamilton tries to become the first team since Olivieri’s 1999 squad to repeat as PSAL champion.

The Tigers beat Port Richmond in the semifinals last week getting just 25 yards from Walcott, who suffered an ankle injury, but they will almost certainly need more to get past 12-0 Curtis.

No matter where he winds up next year, Walcott expects to face the same challenges he has since he was in Pop Warner and Little League.

“People see me and don’t think I can do much because of my size,” Walcott said. “I know I’ll have to do the same thing in college. It will be just like starting over. But I’ll do it again.”