DJ Williams- Simeon Career Academy

“Kids wear number one and look up to Derrick Rose Kevin Durant thirty five.  I want kids to wear zeroes for DJ Williams,” says the junior guard from Simeon Career Academy.

The 6’7” tall 202 pound Williams is ranked as the 29^th best overall junior basketball player in the nation and second in the state of Illinois according to ESPN.com.

On November 4^th, Williams verbally committed to play basketball under Coach John Groce as he will join the University of Illinois Fighting Illini for the 2015-2016 season.

“I love [Illinois],” says an excited Williams, “The whole environment, the coaching staff, the players, the Big Ten. I just love everything about it.”

He adds, “My first major offer was from Illinois. Once they offered me, I kind of wanted to take it then, but it was my sophomore year, so I just had to wait it out.”

Williams looks forward to reuniting at U of I with former Simeon standouts Kendrick Nunn (’13) and Jaylon Tate (’13) who, along with current Duke star Jabari Parker (’13), helped lead the Simeon Wolverines to four straight Illinois State Championships (of which Williams was a part of two).

“They helped with my toughness and competitiveness,” says Williams, “Playing behind Jabari, I had to compete against him every day. It made me more versatile. I look up to Jabari. He’s one of my favorite players right now. I look at his mix tapes all the time and try to steal his moves. Kendrick was my boy. I think I was closest with him and Jaylon on the team and can’t wait to play with them again in two years.”

Williams is also hoping to have close friend, Charles Matthews, join him and the Fighting Illini in 2015. Matthews, a 6’5” 175 lb. junior guard from Saint Rita High School in Chicago, is the top ranked recruit in Illinois for the class of 2015 and eleventh in the nation according to ESPN.com.

“I’m working on him. I talk to him all the time about coming to Illinois, but I try not to bother him because I know every other school is bothering him right now. I just joke around and tell him to come to Illinois with me. He says he likes them a lot, but he still doesn’t know where he’s going yet.”

Williams says his relationship with Matthews has helped them both develop into the elite players in the competitive arena of Chicago high school basketball.

“Of course, I’m going to say I’m better than Charles, and he’s going to say he’s better than me. We’re just competitive. We just want to see the best out of both of us. We both want to make it to the league (NBA). We both want to work hard. We’re just going to keep pushing each other.”

Versatility is a quality that Williams believes makes him a big threat to the other teams that he goes up against.

 “I can do pretty much anything [you ask of me], but I work for it,” he says, “It’s a blessing to be this talented, but I have to keep working hard to get better.”

Adding, “I’m going to work hard every day and try to make my teammates better here at Simeon and at Illinois.”

Having been evaluated with qualities similar to standout NBA players Paul George and Rudy Gay, and also to his former teammate Jabari Parker, Williams appreciates the comparisons but looks to create a reputation on his own.

He says, “I just want to be my own player. Of course I’m going to try to steal their moves, but I just want to be my own player.”

At first thought, Williams looks to improve his strength ever day.  He then turns to improving every aspect of his game.

“I just want to get better. Anything I can improve on, I’ll do anything to do it.”

He adds that choosing to attend Simeon Career Academy was one of the better basketball decisions he has made during his career.

 “I was always pretty much under the radar coming up. In seventh grade, I started working on my ball handling a lot. Eighth grade was my breakout year. That’s when high schools started talking to me. Then I met Coach Rob, and decided to come to Simeon. I think that was the best thing for me. I don’t think I could be DJ Williams if I didn’t come to Simeon.”

According to Williams, anyone who has ever coached him has had a great impact on his development as an elite basketball player.

However, when asked for whom he would want to play if he had the opportunity to be coached by any coach in the history of basketball, Williams answers quickly, “I would want to play with Coach Rob [Smith] for the rest of my life.”

Adding, “and Coach Groce, too.”

Like any star athlete, DJ Williams strives to make it to the professional level sometime in the near future—a goal that is within reach.

“Everybody wants to be in the league. If I’m ready, I’ll go, but if I’m not I’ll just keep working on my game and getting better.”

Isaiah Canaan- Murray State University/ Houston Rockets

“With the thirty-fourth pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets select Isaiah Canaan from Murray State University.”

These nineteen words are simply said by NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, yet they are life changing for the 6’1” guard from Biloxi, Mississippi.

 “I have a lot of big wins under my belt,” Canaan said shortly before the draft as for why teams should pick him over other players, “I’m a great leader, and I have a great personality. I’m going to compete and give 110% every night and go out there and go to war with anyone who is put beside me.”

During his time at Murray State, Canaan helped lead the Racers to three overseas tournament championships along with two trips to the NCAA tournament in 2010 and 2012.  In the 2012-2013 season, Canaan and the Racers finished with a 21-10 record— albeit missing the ballot for the 2013 NCAA tournament. Canaan also finished the season leading the Ohio Valley Conference with 20.8 points per game.

“The Murray State coaching staff helped with my development as a player a lot,” says Canaan, “They showed me the ropes. They taught me the right ways to do things and how to become a leader. I really appreciate everything that they did for me.”

Since a young age, Canaan has shown elite basketball skills that have helped get him to the position that he is in today, with the opportunity to play alongside NBA greats James Harden and Dwight Howard with the Houston Rockets.

“Basketball runs in my family,” says Canaan, “I started playing at the age of six. My dad just gave me a ball and told me to see what I could do with it.”

Soon after realizing the potential he had, Canaan began playing with older age groups in his early leagues.

He says, “I was always fortunate enough to be good growing up. Playing in age groups that were older than me helped shape my aggression today. The guys I played against were always bigger than me. In order for me to stand out, I had to be aggressive so I could just show that I was capable of playing along with them.”

Canaan is a self-proclaimed shooter.

Giving a personal scouting report, he says, “You’ve just got to play him honest. Try to make him finish at the goal. Keep the ball out of his hands.”

A similar style of play and physical build, Canaan looks to Los Angeles Clippers’ point guard and six-time NBA all star, Chris Paul, as a role model.

Canaan says, “I think I model my game after Chris Paul. We are about the same height. He can shoot the basketball. I can shoot the basketball. He knows how to pass. I can pass. We both play the same position. He’s been very successful at the position and the level that he’s been playing at. I model my game after him. I talk to him all of the time and just try to figure out ways to be successful at the highest level.”

Although he has had much success, Canaan does see some aspects of his game that he can improve upon as he enters into the next chapter of his basketball career.

“I’m just trying to improve my lateral quickness on the defensive end, so I can guard the Russell Westbrooks, the Derrick Roses, the Chris Pauls, the Rajon Rondos and just some of those elite guards in the league. I want to be able to harass them and stay in front of them and make a name for myself.”

Canaan’s goal as he enters the highest level of play in his basketball career is quite simple: SUCCESS.

“I just want to be as successful as possible,” he says, “I want to be an all-star and try to win as many championships as I can. All of the individual awards that come along the way are just a bonus.”

Now, Canaan will play with the Rockets pre-season team in the hopes of continuing his career with the team into the regular season. After signing an offseason deal with NBA superstar Dwight Howard and entering their second season with James Harden, the Rockets are a top contender for the Western Conference Finals. Adding Canaan to their bench will put up a strong backup for current point guard, Jeremy Lin. However, Canaan could move to the starting position sometime later in the season.

“I think I’ve done pretty good, so far,” he says, “Hopefully, I’ve opened up a lot of eyes, and I will continue to take advantage of every opportunity that’s given to me.”

For now, Canaan says, his focus will be to “keep doing the right things on and off the court, work hard every day, and stay humble.”

Brandon Paul- University of Illinois

“I basically just told him that [Illinois basketball] is a lot different than Western Michigan,” former University of Illinois starting shooting guard, Brandon Paul, says of the advice he has given to his younger brother, Darius, a transfer from Western Michigan University, gearing up to play basketball at Illinois for the 2013-2014 season.

Brandon adds, “Coach Groce is going to expect a lot more out of him. It’s not going to be as easy. I’m not saying it was easy over at Western Michigan, but I think the work load is a lot more. There’s a lot of good competition in the Big Ten. I told him he has a lot to prepare for. I just want to make sure he’s ready for it.”

Brandon has set the bar high for the Paul family’s name in basketball and has created some big shoes for his little brother to fill. After committing to play basketball at the University of Illinois his junior year at Warren Township High School, Brandon finished up his high school career with being named the “2009 Illinois Mr. Basketball”—an award annually given to the best high school basketball player in Illinois and shared with ten other former Illini*.

“I had wanted to play at Illinois for a long time,” Brandon says, “When I received the call offering me a scholarship, it was really humbling. I just talked it over with my family and went on my visit. The whole experience was really exciting.”

During his freshman and sophomore seasons at Illinois, Brandon received solid playing time from Head Coach Bruce Weber in all of the team’s 70 games.

 During his junior year is when Brandon really started to shine as one of the team’s top players. At the beginning of the 2011-2012 season, he earned the role as one of the team’s all-time starters. Playing all 32 games that season, Brandon led the team in points (469), average points per game (14.7), free throws (125), assists (94), and steals (46). The most memorable moment of Brandon’s season happened on January 10, 2012 when he scored a career high 43 points in the Fighting Illini’s defeat of the #5 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.  This was the third highest single game scoring total in the history of the program. That night, Brandon also made eight three pointers, which tied the school’s all-time record.

Entering his senior season, Brandon experienced a drastic coaching change when Bruce Weber moved onto Kansas State and Illinois hired former Ohio University head coach, John Groce.

“It was tough having a coaching change,” Brandon says, “but both staffs helped me learn a lot. I think we really came along with Coach Groce and his staff. It was hard to learn a new system with just one year left under my belt, but playing under [the Groce administration] was definitely one of my better years.”

In his final season at Illinois, Brandon also experienced his fondest memory as a member of the Fighting Illini—the 2012 Maui Invitational.

“We played really well and got off to a hot start in the season. We ended up winning the tournament. That was one of the best times as a team. Individually, I was awarded the MVP, which was just icing on the cake.”

            Paul says that much of his success has come from the support he has gotten both at home and at various levels of play.

“I put a lot of work into my game myself,” Brandon says, “but my parents have had a lot of influence on me as well as my high school coaches and my AAU coaches. [Former Chicago Bull] Dickey Simpkins, my AAU coach, is one of my mentors. I look to my parents and Dickey, as well as a few of my college coaches who have helped me get to where I am right now. They have all been big impacts on my basketball career.”

Brandon says that his Warren Township Varsity coach, Chuck Ramsey, played an important role in developing him into the disciplined player that he is today.

“Coach Ramsey was my Varsity coach. He and his staff had a huge impact on me. He never sugar coated anything, and he never treated you differently. He knew that if we were going to be good, then he needed to be hard on us. He was a great coach for me in my high school days. I appreciate everything he did for me.”

When asked to give a scouting report on himself, Brandon is a bit hesitant.

“I don’t know if I would want to give anybody a scouting report on me because they would know how to guard me.”

Brandon does describe himself, however, as “a gifted scorer”.

“I came to college to score. I had to juggle two roles. I had to become a backup point guard as well as a two guard. I see myself as a combo guard that can take the ball up the floor as well as space the floor out. I’m capable of playing multiple positions and capable of guarding multiple positions.”

Although grateful for NBA comparisons to that of Dwayne Wade, Courtney Lee, and Russell Westbrook, Brandon does not try to model his game after anyone in particular.

“I just play like [Brandon Paul].  I just try to play my own game and nobody else’s.”

Confidently, Brandon says he has no weaknesses, only “part of [his] game that [he] can improve.”

He says, “I’m working on my ball handling, shot consistency, and just overall endurance. I want to go out on the court and be the best player possible all the time.”

Earning the respect of his coaches and teammates throughout the years, Brandon has become a known leader both on and off the court.

“I just try to lead by example,” he says, “If I see guys lacking, I speak up vocally. I want to be enthusiastic no matter what’s going on. Things may not be going well, but you want to keep a positive mindset.”

When he has gotten down or has had a less than satisfying game, Brandon says his teammates have always been there to pick him up and help make him a better player on the court.

“A lot of my teammates from high school are still some of my best friends today. I’ve been playing with many of them since third grade. I have always been fortunate enough to have teammates that haven’t treated me differently because of my abilities. They don’t look to me for anything. They’re just there to support me. The guys in college pushed me to be a better player. If I did something wrong, they would let me know and not just stay quiet about it.”

            Like most athletes, Brandon is a very competitive person. He strives to be the best basketball player he can be and plans to make a living doing what he loves. After going undrafted in the 2013 NBA draft and playing on the Minnesota Timberwolves summer-league team, he is now playing for BC Nizhny Novgorod of the Russian Professional Basketball League.

“I always want to win and want to be successful. I know that there are guys that are not in my position that would kill to be in my position right now. That drives me to become a better player than what I am now.”

*Other former Fighting Illini to receive the “Illinois Mr. Basketball” award include: Bruce Douglas (1982), Nick Anderson (1986), Marcus Liberty (1987), Deon Thomas (1989), Jarrod Lee (1994), Sergio McClain (1997), Frank Williams (1998), Brian Cook (1999), Dee Brown (2002), and Jereme Richmond (2010). 

Victor Oladipo- Indiana University

         As a former star guard for the Indiana University Hoosiers and a projected lottery pick in the upcoming 2013 NBA draft, Victor Oladipo has been predicted to have similar NBA qualities to that of Dwayne Wade and Tony Allen. Some draft websites are even predicting him to be the next Michael Jordan. However, Oladipo sees things differently.

“I just go out there and try to be the best Victor Oladipo possible,” he says, “I don’t have any extra pressure to be like anybody else. I just go out there and be me. I have more pressure on myself than anybody has pressure on me.”

Before becoming a Hoosier, Oladipo attended DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. Nationally known for its consistently competitive basketball teams, the DeMatha High School athletic program was recognized as the #2 high school athletic program in the United States in both 2005 and 2007.

“I think it just shows how great of a program [DeMatha] is overall as a school and as an athletic program. They have worked hard in order to get to where they are in history. They’ve had a lot of great players come through there, and I think that’s why it is so competitive and that’s why it’s such a great program,” says Oladipo.

During his time at DeMatha Oladipo played an active role in leading the Stags to two Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship titles.

“My role was just to be an energy type of guy and lock up the other team’s best player and just impact by what I do out there on the defensive end and rebound. Winning the WCAC championship my junior and senior years were my greatest basketball memories from high school. Those were my first two, and it was something that I had really dreamed about doing and being a part of DeMatha history.”

Like any high school basketball player would be, Oladipo says he was thrilled to receive his first scholarship offer to play basketball in college.

“I was very happy. I was excited. I know my parents were, too. The first thing I did was call my mom and she was really proud of me. When that happened it made me want to work even harder—just like when I found out I was going to the NBA. It just makes me want to work harder and harder to be the best possible.”

While playing at Indiana, Oladipo received recognition for his production on the court by being named the 2013 Sporting News Men’s College Basketball Player of the Year, 2013 National Co-Defensive Player of the Year, a 2013 First Team All-American, and First All Big Ten Team among others.

“It’s nice,” Oladipo says of the recognition, “but at the end of the day I know where I came from, and I know 10 or 12 months ago people weren’t even talking about me. I know it all has had to do with hard work, so if I stop working hard it will all go away in the blink of an eye. I just have to continue to work hard. I enjoy the recognition. It’s pretty cool.”

Oladipo describes himself as “a high energy player and a player that’s capable of impacting the ball on both ends of the floor. [He] can change the game just through energy and what [he] brings to the table.”

Although much of his success has come from his own hard work and effort, Oladipo credits his coaches and family for much of his success.

“I appreciate all of my coaches. I think they have helped me develop my game and made me the player I am today, but I still have room to grow. The Indiana coaching staff has helped me with just becoming an overall basketball player. I think when I first came to Indiana, I was an athletic player who could run and jump, but now I’m a basketball player who’s athletic. I think I’ve come a long way.”

Throughout his basketball career and life, Oladipo credits his mother as his greatest source of support.

“There’s no question. Without her, I definitely wouldn’t be here. She has supported me throughout the whole process since day one. I’m glad she pushed me because I’m here today.”

            Although he may have wanted to play other sports as well as basketball throughout his life, Oladipo is thankful today that his mother pushed him to focus on the sport that he will be making a living out of in the near future.

“I only played basketball. I wanted to play more than one sport growing up, but my parents wouldn’t let me. My mom always used to say ‘why would you want to be a jack of all trades and a master of none?’ She just wanted me to play one sport and try to perfect it.”

In just a few days, Oladipo will head out to Brooklyn for the 2013 NBA Draft to fulfill a lifelong goal.

“I’ve always wanted to play basketball professionally. Ever since I was little, it has always been a dream of mine. Now, I’m at the point where I’m a couple of [days] away from my dream coming true. It’s an amazing feeling.”

James Young- Rochester High School / University of Kentucky

            Willie Cauley-Stein, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Alex Poythress, Julius Randle, and James Young. What do these six elite basketball players have in common? According to nbadraft.net and draftexpress.com, each of them is projected to be drafted in the 2014 NBA draft, and all of them will be wearing blue and white this upcoming college basketball season as they work to bring the University of Kentucky Wildcats back to a championship season.

            Along with Cauley-Stein, both Harrisons, and Randle, James Young is projected to be picked up early, in the draft’s lottery—something that has been a goal of his since he was little.

            “I first started playing basketball when I was three years old,” Young says, “At first, it was just my dad and I messing around, but I started to really get serious about it when I was five. It’s always been a goal of mine to play in the NBA. I think that’s every basketball player’s dream.”

            At 6’6” and 204 lbs., Young, a recent graduate of Rochester High School located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, says he’s excited to head out to Lexington to play under renowned Coach John Calipari.

            “I chose Kentucky because they’re more of a family and I’m a big family person. Off the court, they’re always together talking about how to get better and everybody is just really close.”

Young adds, “I’ve talked to a lot of guys on the team: Willie Cauley-Stein, Ryan Harrow, Alex Poythress, and Nerlens Noel. They told me it’s going to be tough. Cal doesn’t promise anything. Just go out there and work hard.”

He is also looking forward to playing alongside Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, and Julius Randle.

All incoming freshmen, Young says, “They are all great guys. I can’t wait to play with them. We have all had the chance to play against each other throughout the summer, but the McDonald’s All American Game was my first time playing with the twins on the same team.”

After a dominating 2011-2012 season ending with a national championship, the Kentucky Wildcats came back in 2012-2013 with a less than dazzling season. Having not been selected for the 2013 NCAA tournament, many spectators question how the team is going to respond to the devastating season. Young does not see an issue with bringing Wildcats back on top.

 “A lot of people say it is going to be a lot of pressure for us, and they are going to expect big things from us. I think we should be just fine if we just be players and play our game. Our goal is to just try not to think about last year at all and try to keep moving forward and get better at everything.”

He adds, “It’s a blessing. A lot of kids don’t get the same opportunity as we do to get to play for such an outstanding basketball school. It is a big deal. We can’t take it for granted and [have to] come out big on the court.”

As a shooting guard, Young says his left handedness has been his greatest advantage as he continues to improve at his position.

“Most defenders are used to guarding right-handed people. Because I’m left-handed, it’s different and more difficult for them, and I try to take advantage of that.”

Off the court, he tries to strengthen his weaker hand by writing right-handed.

Aside from his ball handling skills, Young says his job is to be a leader on the court and bring energy to the team.

“I try to pick everybody up on the court. I try to get all eyes on me, so I can get everybody else on the team the ball. [As a leader], my job is to be more vocal on the court, do the right things, and tell people where to go or where they should be.”

Young says he really started to “blow up on the court” in the summer of 2012. In the title game of the 2012 Nike Global Challenge located in Washington D.C., he helped team USA top Andrew Wiggins—the number one ranked recruit in the class of 2013 and a Kansas commit—and team Canada while scoring a game total of 29 points after shooting 12-23—including five baskets from behind the arc and a 16 point run within a six minute stretch. Young then received the MVP award. He remembers this game as his greatest memory of his basketball career thus far.

During the time before he goes out to Lexington, Young plans to work hard every day to improve on his game and “keep getting better as a person both on and off the court.”

His greatest support when it comes to achieving his goals, Young says, is his grandma and his father.

“Off the court, I’d have to say my grandma has been the best at helping me improve as a person. She’s always been there for me for everything. On the court, I’d have to say my dad has helped me the most. He always works with me and pushes me to work hard every day.”

As for now, Young continues to grow as a player and is projected to be the number five draft pick in 2014 by nbadraft.net. However, Young says he doesn’t pay attention to recruiting websites and draft predictions.      

“I don’t really pay attention to that. I just focus on playing my game and getting better. [For now], there’s nothing to celebrate. I haven’t made it there yet.”

Tyler Ulis- Marian Catholic High School

            Imagine moving away from the place you’ve called home for your entire life. Think about leaving your family, friends, and everything you’ve ever known to take the risk of trying to make it big in a city filled with some of the most elite high school basketball players in the country. Tyler Ulis did just that when he moved from Lima, Ohio to Chicago to join the Eastern Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC) and play at Marian Catholic High School.

“It’s completely different,” Ulis says of playing in Chicago rather than Lima, “Here it has a lot more competition. That’s one of the main reasons why I moved out here. In Ohio, a Catholic league wouldn’t have good teams like this.”

Ulis says he chose to attend Marian Catholic because it was a school based on more than just basketball.

“My dad wanted me to choose an academic school. Somewhere that is not just based on basketball and Marian was the closest thing to that around our neighborhood.”

Ulis’ mother has also stood as a strong support system throughout his basketball career.

 “It was hard for [my mom] for me to move out here with my dad, but she let me do it because she knew I wanted to accomplish my goals. She still travels with me everywhere I go. She travels to South Carolina. She travels to Chicago. If we have a three game back to back stretch, she will travel four hours here and four hours back every day.”

Leading the Spartans to a second place spot in the 2012-2013 ESCC standings and an eighth place ranking in the Chicago Sun-Times Super 25, Ulis was the second leading scorer of the ESCC with a season total of 142 points behind Saint Viator’s Ore Arogundade, who topped the league with 154 total points on the season.

“I’ve made all conference two years, so I feel like I’m on the same level as the top players in our league. It’s a tough league, so I just have to keep working at it, and hopefully I win player of the conference one year.”

Basketball has always been a love for Tyler Ulis. Ulis formerly ran track and played football. However, he eventually gave up the two sports to focus more on improving his basketball skills.

“I’ve always loved it. Since day one, I’ve always had a ball in my hand running up and down the stairs. Track, I was always pretty good at it—probably better than basketball-but [basketball] was just what I loved, so I stayed with it.”

Standing 5’8” and 150 pounds, Ulis does not have the advantage of height on his side, which forces him to focus on improving that much more on other key aspects of his game.

“I’ve tried to improve my range with my shot. I try to work on my body more because I’m not going to grow too much, so I have to get stronger and quicker than everybody else on the court.”

Ulis says that he has stuck with the point guard position since day one.

“I’ve always been a point guard,” he adds, “Skill wise, [my family and coaches] knew I was going to be short so we had to work on being a point guard. We knew I wasn’t going to play center. My dad, step dad, and cousin, Travis Walton, have helped me out a lot.”

Walton formerly played under Coach Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans. He was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.

Ulis describes himself as “a pass first point guard and can lead the team well.”

"I lead by getting teammates involved and getting everybody to play hard. I put confidence in my players. I can score when I’m asked to, but I just try to play the game to win."

Leadership, he believes, is the most important aspect of a point guard’s game.

Ulis says, “I try to be a leader by example. When your team is down you try to pick them up. I can’t let my team get behind.”

Ulis looks up to NBA greats Chris Paul and Allen Iverson and AP National College Player of the Year, Trey Burke. He tries to mirror some aspects of their play in his own.

“With Allen Iverson, his crossover. Chris Paul, I like how he’s a leader on the floor. Both in the way he plays and how he’s vocal. Trey Burke, I just like how he plays all around.”

Ulis even wears the number three in reflection of Iverson.

“He’s been my favorite player ever since I was young.”

As for Ulis’ personal goals in his basketball career, he hopes to play Division 1 college basketball, and then hopefully enter the NBA. Going into his senior year, Ulis has offers from Butler, Colorado State, DePaul, Florida, Florida State, Illinois at Chicago, Iowa, Loyola Chicago, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Oregon State, Purdue, Southern California, and Vanderbilt.

Like any high schooler, Ulis says he was excited when he received his first college scholarship offer, which came from Loyola Chicago.

“I was happy because not too many big schools were looking at me because of my size. I was about 5’4” as a freshman, so as I started to grow more colleges started looking at me. Once I received my first offer they have pushed me to work harder and get more.”  

Some people may think the odds are stacked against a 5’8” point guard making it big in basketball, but with his hard work and dedication, Tyler Ulis is just the one for the job.

Jahlil Okafor- Whitney Young Magnet High School

“I’m sure she would be proud of me,” says Whitney Young’s star center Jahlil Okafor of his mother who passed away from bronchitis when he was only 9 years old.

“I always say if she were here, I’m not sure I would work as hard as I have with basketball. [Losing her] has helped me take basketball more seriously. The next day, after it happened, I remember playing basketball, and it took my mind off of everything. Ever since then, I’ve kind of forced myself to take things more seriously.”

Named the top ranked high school basketball player in the nation for the class of 2014, according to rivals.com, Okafor’s hard work and focus have paved the way to accomplishments that most athletes his age only dream of. Most recently, he was named the 2013 Sun- Times Player of the Year—an honor given to Simeon’s Jabari Parker in 2012.

Okafor primarily credits his Whitney Young teammates for helping him pull ahead of Parker this year as the top varsity player in Illinois.

             “I think my teammates really made me look good this year,” says Okafor, “We went around the whole country beating some of the best teams around. That wasn’t anything that I did necessarily, but I think more so toward my teammates.”

            In addition to his teammates, Okafor credits his family and coaching staff for helping develop him into the dominant player that he is today.

“I would give a lot of credit to my family. Of course hard work goes into that, but I could easily stop working. My family stays on me to keep me grounded. So it all goes to my family.”

“My coaches have helped me out a lot—especially Coach Tyrone Slaughter. He’s really helped me become a leader. I would usually just come to practice and do what I was supposed to do, and if anybody else was slacking off I wouldn’t say anything. Now, I am a leader on the team. I try to lead the guys on the court. Off the court, I try to be a leader by example, and also help them out if they make mistakes.”

Along with Okafor, Whitney Young has two other players ranked within the top sixty-five players in the nation, juniors L.J. Peak and Paul White.

“I think it shows how the school really develops our players. For L.J., Paul and I, we were all very talented before we got here, but everybody here has gotten better since they’ve been a part of Whitney Young, so that says a lot for our coaching staff.”

Although he has noticeably improved since he started at Whitney Young, Okafor was already recognized as an elite player when he was still in junior high.

“In eighth grade I started to realize that I had a chance to be really good. I went to the freshman All American camp, and I was recognized as the top freshman there. Ever since then, I realized that if I took it seriously I could really do something in basketball.”

Before entering high school, Okafor had already begun being recognized by D-1 college basketball programs. His first offer coming from DePaul University, Okafor literally did not believe it at first.

“I received my first offer in eighth grade. I was aware [DePaul] was about to offer me [a scholarship]. I just remember the next day I was on ESPN. I didn’t get to see it. It came on the morning show. I remember waking up, and I had like ten missed calls, and people were telling me that I was on ESPN. I thought everybody was lying. Then, I finally saw it for myself.”

Since then, Okafor has received numerous offers from other major programs.

“I’ve received offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Kansas, UCONN, Georgetown, Illinois, DePaul, Northwestern, Arizona, Baylor, Arkansas, Louisville. I’m sure I forgot some people. Oh, North Carolina, Duke, NC State. That’s the majority of it. I think.”

So, what is it about Jahlil Okafor that makes him such an eye catcher to the top D-1 basketball programs in the country?

“A lot of people recognize me as being a dominant post player,” says Okafor “and also being dominant on both ends of the court.” Adding, “I’m trying to be more dominant on the defensive end because right now I’m known as scoring a lot of points on the block and things like that, so I want to be more dominant on the defensive end of the floor.”

He says he is trying to model his game after stand-out NBA players such as Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwan, and Tim Duncan.

“Just because they all play my position, and they were the best to ever do it at my position.”

As of now, Okafor will continue leading the Whitney Young Dolphins through the IHSA playoffs attempting to knock off some of the most talented teams in the country.

“I think the competition explains everything about Chicago. I always say we have the best basketball players in the country. Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, of course, Jabari, myself and Cliff. I think it puts a mental toughness on you because nobody in Chicago really cares who you are. When you step on the court, you are going to have to play. So, I think that speaks for itself.”

 His next opponent is Cliff Alexander and the Curie Metropolitan basketball team at sectionals. Curie and Whitney Young face off tonight at Argo Community High School. The winner will go on to play Simeon and Jabari Parker in the Sectional Championship.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun, but of course, I expect my team to win, says Okafor, “I’ve been playing against Cliff since about eighth grade. That’s one of my best friends. I consider him to be one of my brothers. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing against somebody that you’re so close with. It’s going to be exciting. I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to it.”

Glynn Watson- St. Joseph High School

            A small private school located in the Chicago suburb of Westchester, Illinois, St. Joseph High School has created a prominent name for itself on the basketball court. Having entered season after season with highly competitive and talented varsity teams, the Chargers are most famous for their legendary alumni. From Basketball Hall of Famer, Isiah Thomas to the 2010 National College Player of the Year, Evan Turner, St. Joe’s has continuously produced top notch players, and this year is no exception.

St. Joe’s head coach Gene Pingatore, one of few high school basketball coaches to win over 900 games and a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, has high hopes for his starting point guard, sophomore Glynn Watson who he believes “has the potential to be one of the best point guards in the state.”

“He’s not there yet. He still has a lot of work to do. Everyone thinks it’s just automatic, but there are a lot of things that he still has to learn. That’s why you don’t see the consistency that you would like to,” says Pingatore.

“On the court, I just try to be a leader,” says Watson, “I’m a fast pace point guard, and if we need to score at the end, I try to score and get my team involved. I try to get everybody on the same page because, when we’re not, that’s how turnovers happen. I want to create a relationship with all of my teammates.”

Relationships on the St. Joe’s basketball team, Watson says, are extremely unified. There is no one person on the team that Watson feels he connects with more than others.

“All of my teammates. We have a close relationship, so basically all of them.”

“My coaches have done a lot to make me a better player. They push me more every day in practice. Ping does a lot of yelling, so that gets me mentally tougher.”

Watson’s relationship with Coach Pingatore is also very strong.

“It’s really close because I’ve known him since my brother was here and all that, so it’s close.”

Watson is the younger brother of Demetri McCamey, a former University of Illinois point guard and St. Joe’s alumnus. McCamey, who is now playing for the Erie Bayhawks—the D-League affiliate of the New York Knicks—believes his brother’s  “potential is through the roof.”

 “He should be better than both my brother Dre and I,” says McCamey, “At his age, I was stronger and more athletic, but he [has a better knowledge of the game]. Physically, he has longer arms than me. He’s just a little better in all aspects of being a true point guard.”

For Watson and McCamey, basketball is “a family thing.”

Watson says that he has learned a lot from watching his brother play and develop his career in professional basketball.

“I’ve seen him go through a lot of pressure so I know what to expect and all that comes with trying to make it big. He’s taught me how to be a better point guard and how to run a team and be a leader.”

 “My brothers help me a lot because they pressure me—especially in practice—to work on my game and get stronger every day. We go to the gym every time they come home and just work on all the aspects of our game every morning and afternoon.”

Although he may be improving at a faster pace than his older brothers, when it comes to a one-on-one battle, Glynn laughs, “I won a couple of them, but they’ve won most of them.”

Both Glynn and his brothers agree that Chicago is currently the location of the best competition in high school basketball. Playing alongside elite class of 2015 players such as St. Rita’s Charles Matthews, Simeon’s DJ Williams, and his own St. Joe’s teammate Jordan Ash, Watson will have a lot of work to do in order to continue his optimistic future.

 “There are a lot of tough players in Chicago. I just try to compete with them, too. It’s special playing at St. Joe’ because a lot of players don’t get to play here and I get a chance to, so it’s special.”

Like his older brother, Watson strives to continue to play basketball for a long time.

“For my team, I just want to try to go downstate and win the championship. In the long term, I’d like to make it to the NBA someday.”

Cliff Alexander- Curie Metropolitan High School

One of the top basketball recruits in his class, Chicago Curie’s junior center, Cliff Alexander, has set a bright future for himself—most likely on one of the more prestigious college basketball courts in the country. At 6’9”, 240 lbs, Alexander ranks fourth in the nation and second in the state of Illinois for the class of 2014 according to rivals.com. However, it wasn’t until he entered high school, Alexander says, that things really started to get going involving his basketball career.

“My freshman year,” he says is when it became evident that his talent outshined the others. “After my freshman season, they said I was going to be really good.”

So good, in fact, that Cliff Alexander and Chicago Simeon standout Jabari Parker were the only unanimous selections to the First All Tournament Team for the recently completed 82^nd Annual Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Some observers say he “absolutely dominated” the tournament and may have been the best player on the court.

Having only started playing organized basketball in eighth grade, Alexander hasn’t received as much overwhelming publicity as Parker and Chicago Whitney Young’s Jahlil Okafor, the number one recruit in the nation for the class of 2014. However, going into his sophomore year, Cliff was already receiving scholarship offers from several major college basketball programs.

“First, I received an offer from Illinois. I didn’t show any emotion, but deep down inside it was like ‘Wow, I got an offer from Illinois. That’s a big deal.’”

Since then, Alexander has received offers from a number of esteemed Division-1 college basketball programs including: Baylor, Connecticut, DePaul, Florida State, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Although he does not plan to narrow down his list until the end of the year, Alexander says he “[likes] Kentucky and Michigan State. They get the ball up and run.”

Modeling his game after New York Knicks’ star Amar’e Stoudemire, Alexander sees similarities amongst their “jump shots, pick n’ pop, and great screens.”

Personally, Alexander describes himself as one who “plays great defense and rebounds the ball, but I’m still working on my jump shot and ball handling.”

Crediting numerous teammates, coaches, and friends with helping him develop into the elite player that he is today; Alexander specifically thanks his eighth grade coach for starting him off and setting the platform for a successful career still in the making. He also credits his mother for providing a strong support system throughout his life.

“My mom motivates me to go to school, get good grades, and go hard on the court.”

Both on and off the court, Alexander is closest to Curie’s junior point guard off the bench, Alondre Pickens.

“I connect most with Alondre out of all the guys on the team. He’s like my little brother.”

As for his future, Alexander’s biggest goal is to be drafted into the NBA. An avid fan, he is a keen follower of the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Along with Amar’e Stoudemire, Alexander looks up to Thunder standout Kevin Durant as a role model.

Cliff has a big reputation built up and will continue to be watched by major recruiters throughout the next two seasons of his high school career. However, when asked if he ever feels any extra pressure knowing the extent to which people are counting on him, Cliff responds, “I don’t pay attention to all of that. I just play my game.”