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.