There are certain moments in life where, based upon your actions, your life changes. For 6'9" Marcus Lee of Antioch, California, his performances with his California Supreme team at the EYBL in Minnesota potentially changed the course of his life. After the event, scholarship offers flooded in from programs across the country. His brother, Bryan, a former basketball standout at Grand Canyon University, and a recruiter for Google, has been the primary filter for Marcus's calls. One of the schools that immediately contacted Marcus following the EYBL event was Duke University.
Seven weeks later, Marcus is now scheduled to travel to Charlottesville, Virginia to participate in the NBPA Top 100 Camp. As the sixth-leading shot-blocker in the EYBL, Lee was instrumental in forging California Supreme's 16-4 record, which helped the team qualify for next month's Peach Jam in South Carolina.
Recently, I spoke with Marcus about, among other things, that life-changing weekend in Minnesota, about speaking with Coach Mike Krzyzewski, as well as Bryan's reaction to the newfound interest in his younger brother.
What was your initial reaction when offers started coming in from all around the country?
I was pretty surprised. I thought I was just sort of settling in and then...
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Did it change your life, to a degree?
Yeah, it did. Yeah, it changed everything. It changed it to the point where after school I was having a lot of phone calls coming in and I just don't have any more free time. (laughs)
Do you like it?
Yeah, I love it! I mean I sometimes get headaches, but it's all worth it. It's been great.
What are you trying to gain or learn from your visits?
How they do stuff around each campus..I really want to talk to people. I feel that I've got a lot of questions for people.
What does your brother think about all of this fuss? I remember that he was, in some ways, your guiding light.
Yeah, yeah, he's just trying to keep everything away from me… so far.
Does he handle everything, for the most part?
Yeah, he handles pretty much everything. He tries to be supportive.
What was it like in the match-up with Jahlil Okafor? He's another recruit that I've spoken to a lot.
I thought it was great. He's really one of the toughest kids I've gone against. He's a really big kid, very fundamentally sound. It was a lot of fun.
One of the schools that has shown interest in you so far is UCLA. What do you know about them?
I want to find out more about them. I know a little bit about them because they're roughly in my area. I think I'd like to take a look around. I mean, I've always had a good relationship with them.
When they offered you, was it pretty exciting?
My brother called me and he said that they're going to call you to probably offer you and then I got a call and it was just amazing.
You're sort of known for your shot-blocking. Out of curiosity, who are the hardest guys for you to try to defend?
Probably one of the bigger or, like, stronger types. Like guarding all these top big men in the EYBL is like, man, I mean, they get the ball, and I get pounded. I try to block their shots and defend them, but a lot of them are tough.
Can you talk a little bit about San Diego State? (other reporter)
San Diego State is always in my ear. They're always really, like, a nice program. I just would like to learn more about them, but they're really nice though.
Do you think it would be hard to leave the West Coast?
I'm not sure. I don't think so.
Have you thought about starting to pare it down?
I think about it a little bit, but I really feel that I should just stay open right now. So far, I have no idea what I'd like to narrow it down to..maybe a little later I will.
How do you feel you and your team are playing right now? Do you feel, in some ways, that this is, for lack of a better phrase, the best Marcus Lee that we have seen?
Yeah, this is probably the best Marcus. (laughs)
Sorry to force you into the third person. I didn't want you to become a diva wide receiver or a boxer just yet..
(laughs) Yeah, in terms of the team, I think we try to separate ourselves by being a very family-like setting. Other teams, they seem to want to compete against themselves and other teams. We try to help each other out..that's our whole goal in this.
That's unusual.
Yeah, yeah. I'm sure you noticed that.
How is it playing in front of your family? Is it a different dynamic?
It's probably the hardest thing.
Oh, really, it's actually harder?
Oh, yeah, much, much harder. I feel like I have to meet much higher expectations when they're here.
I remember that you mentioned during a prior interview with me that your brother was your role model in basketball, not necessarily a current pro or college basketball player. I know that he was a Division II All-American.
Yeah, when he came into college, he was more of a scorer. He tried to focus on that.
Was he generally a different type of player than you?
Yeah, he's exactly the same. He would always try to do the little things to help the team win, things that might not show up in a box score. He got a lot of joy out of basketball.
Well, you seem to get a lot of joy out of playing basketball and life. What would you say is your favorite part about playing basketball? It seems like you like to run and block shots.
Yeah, I love to block shots. They get so happy thinking that they're going to lay it in and I come by and just… swat! I just love doing the little things. I love winning and just being part of a team.
When I was talking to Jahlil, he was amazed at your speed. He had never seen you play before. He was amazed at your speed going up and down the court for a fellow big guy. That was his take on you. What was it like when you received the Duke offer? What was your reaction?
Well, my brother put Coach K's number in my phone. I wasn't sure if it was a joke, but then I got out of school and I was going through my phone and I saw Coach K's number coming up and I was, like, whoa, and then I was just sitting there and there was just a voicemail from Coach K and I, like, had to call him right back.
What did he say when you finally spoke to him?
Oh, he was extremely excited. He had a whole bunch of enthusiasm in his voice.
For those in the audience who haven't gone through that experience, what did he say?
He was just, like, well, he told me that I was, like, an amazing player. He was just, like, he wanted to, like, work me out and get me better.
What did he appreciate about you most?
He liked that I was so happy out there on the court and my energy.
They like high energy guys.
Yeah, I think that's what they liked about me most.
Phenom: phenomenon; especially: a person of phenomenal ability or promise
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
6'11" Freshman Karl Towns, Jr., Photo by Andrew Slater
Phenom is an overused term in sports, but there are times when it merits use. 6'11" freshman Karl Towns, Jr. has already helped lead St. Joseph's Falcons of Metuchen, New Jersey to a 28-2 record and its first New Jersey state title. It's a feat that alumni including the Lakers' Andrew Bynum and former Duke All-American and Chicago Bull Jason Williams weren't able to achieve during their time at the North Jersey Catholic school. After averaging a double-double in the always competitive New Jersey Catholic leagues, MaxPreps named Towns, Jr. to its freshman All-American team.
Off the court, Towns' impact was also felt at St. Joseph's, as Karl, a sociable and conscientious young man, took on a leadership role as the freshman student class president and has earned a reported 4.3 GPA in the classroom. When Karl, a Knicks fan, was contemplating a career in sports broadcasting, MSG Varsity, a regional cable network, sent the then fifteen year-old to interview his basketball hero, forward Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the halftime of a Rutgers-Seton Hall basketball game earlier in the year, Victor Cruz, the All-Pro wide receiver for the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, wanted to meet with the young phenom. An exceptional all-around athlete, the Piscataway, NJ native is a scratch golfer and, although perhaps not yet Randy Johnson, the 6'11" freshman right-hander, who wears a size-20 sneaker, reportedly can already throw a baseball over eighty miles per hour.
On the court, "Little Karl" has benefitted from the tutelage and guidance of his father Karl Sr., a 6'5" former tenacious rebounder for Monmouth University (still the university's leader for rebounds in a season and game) and a successful high school coach at Piscataway Vo-Tech High School in New Jersey for the past fourteen years. His father has also coached Karl, Jr. on the AAU circuit, including for the Sports U. 16s at the Pitt Jam Fest, where the freshman was named to the All-Tournament team by HoopGroup. In order to honor the Dominican heritage of his mother, Jacqueline "Jackie" Cruz-Towns and to give his relatives a chance to watch him play competitively in person, Karl has trained with the Dominican National Team and yesterday made the senior team, which is still hoping to qualify for the Olympics in London this year.
6'11" Karl Towns of New Jersey, Photo by Andrew Slater
A rare, young American big man who is both able to play with his back to the basket and has a face-up game to beyond the three-point line, Karl came within one shot of winning the three-point shooting contest at the recent Mary Kline Classic, a charity event in Pennington, New Jersey that included some of the best talent on the East Coast. Towns, who was one of the youngest participants, wanted to play in the event, which was able to raise over $20,000 dollars for brain cancer research, because he lost his grandfather to cancer.
Under Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke has developed a legacy of success with tough New Jersey high school basketball players. All four of Duke's National Championship teams had, at least, one starter from the Garden State. NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving (St. Patrick's), the Bulls' Luol Deng (Blair Academy), the Hornets' Lance Thomas (St. Benedict's), the Pacers' Dahntay Jones (Rahway), Jason Williams (St. Joe's), Bobby Hurley (St. Anthony's), Roshown McLeod (St. Anthony's), and Alaa Abdelnaby (Bloomfield) all went onto have NBA careers.
After the event, Karl Towns, Jr., an ambitious and cerebral young man with a disarming smile and a big heart, spoke with me extensively about a variety of topics.
Let's start with the state title run.
Oh, you know, it was a big thing for us at St. Joe's. I always told St. Joe's that I wanted to do something that had never been done before: I was going to bring a state title to them. When we were going for the state title, we knew we had a chance to win it. We knew that we were the best team there.
At what point in the year did you get a sense that this could be the year? When did you feel that the group was really clicking?
When I first committed to the school..
Oh, really (laughs)
Yeah, you know, I did. I always have a high confidence that I know that we can do well in whatever we set our minds to. After the game in Teaneck, we lost the second game of the year. We came back and we won that third game. After that game, I just felt that we were going to gun for a state title this year. We weren't going to wait.
Can you touch on your thoughts on two other talented guys that have passed through those same hallways, Jason Williams and Andrew Bynum?
Oh, Jason Williams is a great player and so is Andrew. I'm just trying to make my own legacy at St. Joe's.
Sure.
Bynum is such a great player and I just wanted to use the shooting touch of Jason and put it with Bynum's post presence and then just try to make that work.
In terms of international play, you've trained with the Dominican National Team. How has that unique experience gone so far?
Oh, I actually just left our practice to come to this event. It's just a great experience and know that I'm playing for my country and playing for something that's much bigger than me is just rewarding and puts a lot of pride in myself.
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As you know or can see I've tried to do a lot of research on you..
Yeah, yeah
and I know that your mother is of Dominican descent and your grandmother and other relatives still live there.
Yeah, you know, my mom was born in Santiago. My mom's mom, you know, my grandmother built a house in Santiago. I guess that I'm just trying to keep the Dominican family name alive. Really, everything I work for is for my family. So, in this case, if I can help the Dominican team in any way, I'm happy to.
Another distinguishing thing about you is that you've reportedly earned a 4.3 GPA. First of all, is that still 4.3 GPA true? Secondarily, talk about your emphasis on academics and how you feel that sets you apart?
Yes, it is true. You know having a 4.3 GPA is something that I always wanted to achieve and so I went out there and earned it. I was always a great student when I was younger, but I just wanted to prove that, as a freshman, I'm a great student and also a great athlete as well. I wanted to show other kids that it is possible to be great at both. I've worked hard in both areas and tried to use both to my advantage. For me homework and school come relatively easily because my mom and dad have been teachers.
I knew your dad was a coach.
Yeah, he's a coach and a teacher as well. I've used his teaching methods and I just tried to put it into my work.
Since you mentioned it, how difficult is it for you to balance the almost unrelenting number of basketball events and still try to achieve in the classroom? As you may know, I'm at these AAU events and, as a player or coach, they essentially take up your entire weekend if you continue to win, advance, and then travel back in a van or catch connecting flights from God knows wherever the organizers can find the cheapest venue. In your case, you don't play in as many AAU events as some other kids and your dad has your best interests at heart, but still there is the balancing aspect that you have to deal with.
Yeah, yeah, definitely, you know it's just making sure that you have your priorities straight or right. You have to use your time valuably. So, there are times when we have AAU events and, well, instead of me going around and going into other hotel rooms and part..
Don't worry, I know.
Yeah, doing stupid things or hanging out, I'm studying..or I'm hanging out and studying sometimes too.
So, for you, it's a lot about time management.
Yeah, it's all about time management.
What are your favorite subjects and have you thought at all about what you'd like to major in?
Oh, my favorite subject is social, well, history. I love to learn about the past. I like World History especially. Then, I guess my second favorite would probably be math.
In terms of leadership, I'll sometimes talk to team captains or point guards, but you are the class president. What was the election experience like and how has it shaped your leadership ability?
The election was funny because it was during this thing in the beginning where all of the freshman get together to see who has the best freshman class and we won. Then, the election took place and I won and I knew that, as president, I had to have the priorities of not just me but for everyone in the school. So, I have to try to make sure that everything runs smoothly in the school and be a good representative. I've had to make a lot of decisions that I am proud of and the same time everyone has benefitted from them.
Hopefully
Yeah, hopefully.
You're supposed to be a scratch golfer and play baseball as well.
Yeah, I well quit baseball this year so that I could concentrate on basketball, but I'd like to play again. So, maybe next year I'll play.
I heard that you can throw it over eighty miles an hour right now.
Oh, yeah. (laughs) You know actually I was going to go golfing tomorrow actually, but it's funny baseball was always my first love really.
Now, what's the latest in recruiting for you? By normal standards, it would still be very early, but..
There are so many schools to remember, but I always get new schools every week and every day. There are just so many schools that I don't want to leave anyone out. I can pretty much say that almost every team that was in the NCAA Tournament has offered me or expressed interest.
Are you in any sort of rush to decide? Some kids are, while others would prefer to wait until the end.
Yeah, you know the thing about picking a college, I feel like I have four years to do it.
I feel guilty even asking you about recruiting, but there's been some talk that you'd decide sooner than later.
Yeah, you know, I feel blessed to have four years and have options. I didn't have to wait until my junior year to get some notoriety like some kids. I think that I'm going to wait for a little bit, before a decision.
Sure, your father played at Monmouth and has been a coach for almost your entire life. What advice has he given you and talk about his influence in your life?
Yeah, you know my dad is always, well, he went to Monmouth and he's still the greatest rebounder and blocker in their program's history. I'm so competitive that I wanted to beat him in anything that I do so
What was that experience like the first time that you beat him in basketball? He's a big guy, but I heard that it was fairly early.
Yeah, you know I beat him in one-on-ones, but the first time I beat him I was, like, six or seven
Oh, wow.
Yeah, and he didn't want to talk about it anymore (laughs), but, you know, anytime I'm out on the court, I'm always trying to break any amount of blocks or rebounds that he's ever gotten.
In terms of being the child of a coach, what do you think are the benefits of being around the game and, perhaps, viewing the game differently than the average player? I would think that it would give you an inherent advantage.
Yeah, you know it is, but the challenge with it is that my dad wants me to do so well that he tries to coach me and sometimes forgets that I'm his son. He gets mad because he never, like, wants to talk to me in a negative way. That's why I think sometimes that he wants me to be just perfect.
He's got high standards.
Yeah, he does and that's how he coaches me, but, as his son, he always helped or gave me ways to improve my basketball IQ or scoring in different ways and I think that's really helped a lot. He's given me a lot of his experiences and helped me learn how to do stuff at an early age. He also works me out and so even that helps in a practical way.
This is related to your family and recruiting, but will distance be a factor in your recruitment or college decision?
I don't know. It could be. I haven't really thought too much about that issue. I don't think it will, though, because my parents really just want me to go to the best school for me. They just want me to go to the school that'll give me the best chance at a good future in my life.
Let's talk about Kevin Durant. He's your favorite player and I know that you had a chance to interview him for a local network. What was that experience like for you?
Yeah, Kevin Durant is such a great guy. He's just such a sociable guy. Kevin..
Yeah, he was, without any fanfare, quietly very good to a friend of mine and he's got a great work ethic as well, which I'm sure you appreciated.
Yeah, he's got just an amazing or crazy work ethic which I loved and I was able to spend a day with him for MSG Varsity. It was great to just do that and pick his brain and learning from him. It was just an incredible experience, even with the interview off. It was great to just be able to learn from him and, at the same time, I felt like, in some ways, I could relate to a lot of where he was coming from.
I also saw that you thought of either being a sports broadcaster or eventually becoming a doctor.
Yeah, you know, I wanted to do that, but..
It gave you a taste of it and you didn't necessarily like it.
Yeah, you know, it gave me a taste of being an ESPN reporter (laughs) and I see how it is now. It's really a little gut-wrenching I have to say because you know that you have to hide your questions and you've got to come out with it, but it really opened my eyes…
As you can see over there, I've got some shorthand
Yeah, yeah, (laughs) now, I see, you're very good, but, yeah, it was a great experience and I learned a lot.
How do you battle against both hype and complacency? There's, unfortunately, both a tendency to build players up and then try to tear them down. How do you also try to protect yourself against settling or becoming complacent?
Yeah, I don't mind the hype, but you have to recognize it for what it is and be prepared to live up to it and maintain the hype, if you will. For me, I just go in the gym everyday and I work hard and just make sure that anytime that people make standards for me that I will always live up to them.
Have you taken any visits recently and do you have any planned?
Georgetown was my last visit and I don't have any planned just yet.
What will you be looking for in a college, whenever you do decide?
Oh, the academic standards need to be top notch. It needs to be a great academic school and it also has to be a great basketball school.
How did you decide on St. Joe's and will that be a similar process in terms of how you ultimately decide on a college?
You know you're right. I think it will be a similar thing. For me, it came down to comfort for me with the basketball program at St. Joe's and I think it'll that same thing for college.
Who do you turn to for guidance whenever you make big decisions?
Mostly, my family I'd have to say, really my whole general family. They've been very supportive.
How would you assess your recent play in AAU competition, such as the Pitt Jam Fest?
Yeah, you know the last time I played was in Pittsburgh and I think I did very well. It was a great time to be back with my teammates and coaches. It was a lot of fun.
What are your goals for next season, for you individually and for your team?
I just want to win a T.O.C. (Tournament of Champions) Championship.
Yeah, you came close this year. I know that strength and conditioning is something that you've wanted to work on. How is that going and what areas are you concentrating on most? What have done to improve in that area of your game?
Oh, you know, I've just physically been getting stronger overall.
It looks like you're getting stronger and building up your upper-body and developing a base.
Yeah, thanks, I've been concentrating on that area. I've been trying to develop a base and work on my legs as well. I want to continue to strengthen my body. Even though I had a very good rebounding season, I want to do even better next season, which, you know, goes back to my competitive side. I know that I can do better and get stronger. This will help.
Usually, guys your age tend to favor one heavily over the other, but I'm curious with you..do you prefer to play with your back to the basket or face-up?
Yeah, you know, it really doesn't matter for me. i just want to do whatever I can with the ball so that's why I've been working in the gym so hard in order to be able to do both. It's really just where do I pick up the ball and sometimes habits.
What will be your role next season for St. Joe's? Quenton (DeCosey, a Temple commitment) obviously moves on. This year, you played all over the court.
Yeah, you know I think my role will be even bigger because I'll have to shoot the ball more and be all over the court and be active. This is just another step in the road and I have to just live up to the hype.
In terms of recruiting, is Duke recruiting you at all? For them, it's usually very early in terms of evaluating or recruiting players your age. They tend to wait a little bit longer than some other schools that feel the need to get in early with a kid.
Yeah, you know Duke has shown a little interest, but I don't really think that there has been any scholarship offers or anything like that yet.
It's still very early for them.
Yeah, yeah, I completely understand.
What do you know about Coach K and what do you know about their program?
Coach K is probably the best coach in college basketball history. Even with what Coach Bob Knight was able to accomplish, I think Coach K has even surpassed him. He's one of the greatest coaches ever and anyone would be lucky or love to play under him. In terms of the program, the program is just amazing. It's become just an NBA warehouse or I can't quite think of the word, but they've been able to produce just so many players who then went on to the NBA. Anyone who goes there just…
Does that fit, by the way, in terms of the general criteria..
Yeah, yeah
that you were mentioning before about looking for a program and a school that offered you a balance of a top notch athletics and academics?
Yeah, yeah, it does exactly. I want to make sure that I have a bright future ahead of me and prepare for all possible things.
We're here at the Mary Kline Classic. How did you get involved in this event and what does this event mean to you?
Oh, this is a great event and for a great cause. I'm here to help in any way that I can. Cancer is such a terrible disease and, you know, I lost my grandfather to cancer.
I lost my aunt to the same affliction as Mrs. Kline.
Yeah, this is something that affects all of us and, in any way that I can ever help out a charity, I'm there to contribute.
I'm glad that you're here. What are you hoping to show coaches this summer?
Yeah, you know I'm hoping to show college coaches that I have a great post-up game because it often gets overshadowed by the three-point game. People don't realize that my post-up game is probably better than my three-point game, but the outside shooting tends to get mentioned more because it's unusual.
I also think that, whether it's your father's influence or whatever, your passing in the half-court, especially out of the post, is very advanced. You're able to quickly hit the open man, when necessary.
Yeah, you know, I've always been known as a shooter or as a passer, but I'd like to be known more for my post-up game. I want to show them that my post-up game is probably even better than my shooting.
In terms of size, how tall are you now? I can see those size twenty shoes.
Yeah, I've got my size twenty shoes. I'm now 6'11" and I have no idea how much I weigh today.
What would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?
I'm a video game freak.
I know you like the 2K basketball games.
Oh, yeah, I love NBA 2K11 and 2K12. Those are my games. I'm a video game fanatic and I just love the challenge and competition.
By the way, do you think it helps you at all on the court, in terms of things like hand-eye coordination or visualizing plays?
Yeah, you know, I actually do. I think I learn from it. I think a lot of guys play just to play, but I play to learn. I think another thing that people don't realize about me is that I actually like playing soccer.
Oh, yeah. My God, at your size..
Yeah, it's fun and helps too.
Who are some other kids, nationally, that you're close to on the circuit? I know locally your friends with (Isaiah) "Boogie" Briscoe.
I'm close with Wade Baldwin [a 6'4 sophomore at Immaculata HS (NJ) with offers from Northwestern, Seton Hall, and UMass]. He's actually my cousin. Many people don't realize that. We visited Georgetown together. You know, in terms of other people, it's hard. I mean I feel like I've got friends all over and so, you know, it's really hard to say who I'm really close with.
Sure. What's your take on the state of New Jersey basketball?
You know New Jersey basketball is probably the best basketball in the country I'd have to say. There's a lot of intensity and competition. I mean you look at it on the high school level and we consistently produce very good teams and players that wind up playing around the country. Amazing consistency
(Interview reconvenes after losing the three-point shooting contest by one shot in the final round)
Oh, I can't believe I just lost by one. That's going to bother me for a while.
Don't worry. That was still impressive. Let's go, sort of, rapid fire. What's your favorite pro team?
The Knicks.
Who's the toughest player you've played against so far?
That's a tough one, but I think Al Horford (of the Atlanta Hawks).
What do you plan on working most this offseason?
Strength, my strength.
What is one area of your game that you expect to be better in a year from now?
My strength or rebounding
Do you watch a lot of basketball?
Oh, yes, definitely.
In terms of when you decide on a college, are you looking more for someone who's going to be your buddy or someone who's really going to push you?
That's good. I think for someone who's a pusher. I think I need or benefit from coaches that push me. I think I need that push.
Where do you like to catch the ball most?
Anywhere (laughs).
That's true.
(laughs)
How would you assess your defense at this point?
I think I'm good in all kinds of defenses. I wasn't the best when I was younger and so I always tried to work on my defense. The work has started to pay off. I think I'm a lot better now.
Do you know what your stats were this year? Does twelve and ten sound right?
Yeah, I averaged twelve points, but eleven rebounds, six blocks, and I think six assists.
Impressive, particularly for a freshman in this area. What about your outside game? It is obviously an important part of your game and a major distinguishing factor for you offensively.
Well, it just cost me a three-point contest. So, I don't know how good it is anymore.
Oh, no, no, it was a cheap rim.
(laughs) Thanks, but that's gonna frustrate me for a while. So close. Realistically, my outside game is probably the best part of my game.
I was reading that there's a Willie Mays' quote that you have on your wall, "It isn't hard to be good from time to time in sports. What's tough is being good every day."
You know because it just shows that people usually have great games once in a while, but they just fade away. A good player can be like that. They can occasionally have a great game, whereas the great player has the consistency to keep having great games almost everyday. They don't let up.
Well, I think you can see that very clearly in AAU ball, where a player can have a very good weekend. The great ones distinguish themselves by the consistency of their performances. They deliver event after event.
Absolutely.
You met with Victor Cruz (an All-Pro wide receiver for the New York Giants). What was that experience like?
Yeah, he wanted meet with me after winning the Super Bowl. He heard about me through New Jersey hoops. He's from Patterson.
Right, he went to Patterson Catholic.
Yeah, exactly, he was a really good guy.
Running the court and conditioning is often an issue for big guys. How do you feel about where your conditioning is at right now?
Oh, I feel great right now. I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life. I'm running the court very well. My legs are in great shape and I feel fine.
Lastly, you mentioned earlier working on your low-post moves. What have you been working on specifically?
You know I always had them. They're actually better than my three-point game surprisingly. It's just that most of the time coaches don't want me to use it and so I'll do whatever they tell me and shoot the three. I feel like we're really just fine-tuning the moves right now for next season.
Do you have a preferred position?
Oh, no, I'll go wherever my coach tells me to play. I'll play wherever he thinks is best.
Hailed as the best big man from Chicagoland since Eddy Curry, 6'11" Jahlil Okafor, the Brobdingnagian sophomore center from Whitney Young, has lived up to the high expectations. Last September, Jahlil was the first player that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski offered a scholarship to in the 2014 class. It was a particularly early offer from a program that historically has been conservative in both the sheer number and timing of its offers, but clearly the staff felt that Okafor was an exceptional person and player. Jahlil was coming off of a summer where he played a critical role, shooting a remarkably efficient 71.1% from the field and 82.6% from the charity stripe, in leading the United States to a gold medal at the FIBA Americas 16U Championship in Cancun, Mexico.
At Whitney Young, the Chicago academic magnet school that includes Michelle Obama as an alumna, Jahlil, a 3.4 GPA student, took on much more of a substantial role this season, while the team travelled all over the country playing challenging contests in California, the Carolinas, and St. Louis against nationally ranked teams like Bishop Gorman and Gonzaga as well as Chicago powers Simeon and Curie. After starting three games on a 20-10 team as a freshman for the Dolphins of Whitney Young, Okafor stepped up his game and made second-team All-State as a sophomore and MaxPreps named him to their Sophomore All-American team. Blessed with a 7'3" wingspan, Jahlil averaged nearly thirteen rebounds, twenty-five points, five blocks, and four steals, while shooting nearly seventy percent from the field this high school season.
6'11" Jahlil Okafor, Photo by Andrew Slater
In early December, Jahlil, a pure low-post player who isn't afraid to bang inside, visited the Triangle and took an unofficial visit to Duke University, touring the facilities and also watching the team practice. Twice this high school season, Coach K of Duke University returned the favor, coming to watch the sophomore big man play in person. In the initial viewing at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Coach K observed Jahlil score ten points and grab a dozen rebounds in a 46-44 buzzer-beating win over Prestonwood (TX) and 6'9" force Julius Randle, one of the top players in the 2013 class and a Duke recruit. At the second viewing, Coach K watched Jahlil battle his Mac Irvin friend and fellow Duke recruit Jabari Parker, the Gatorade Player of the Year, in the state 4A Sectionals in Summit, Illinois. Although Jahlil had nine first-half points and helped the Dolphins take a 24-21 halftime lead, eventually the depth and experience of Simeon proved too much on that day, as the eventual state champion Wolverines won 52-42 ending Whitney Young's season with a record of 16-10 against one of this year's most challenging schedules in high school basketball.
After splitting his time between the Mac Irvin 17s and 16s last summer, the sociable center is anchoring the paint for the Mac Irvin Fire 17U team full-time this AAU season. This weekend in Dallas, the sophomore Okafor stepped up and had his best AAU weekend to date, leading the Fire to a 5-0 session and averaging over sixteen points, seven rebounds, and two blocks in twenty-one minutes at the third leg of Nike's EYBL. This EYBL season, Jahlil, now 16, has been Mac Irvin's leading overall scorer (165 points in 260 minutes) and has shot an eye-catching 71.7% from the field, helping the Fire to eleven wins in fourteen games. During the early live period, the Duke staff was a constant presence at his Mac Irvin games, including a memorable one at the Boo Williams Complex in Virginia, where the 275 lb strong young man tore down the rim.
After an EYBL game, the bass-voiced Jahlil spoke with me about Mac Irvin's passing, his goals for this summer, and his relationship with Jabari Parker, amongst other topics.
Well, first of all congratulations on making all-state as a sophomore in Illinois.
It was an honor. It’s something I talked about setting as a goal with my Dad. It was great.
This year you made much more of an impact on the team than you did as a freshman. You had a really competitive schedule. How do you view your season overall?
Well, we had a couple of our key guys injured early in the season…
Yeah, Tommy Hamilton.
Yeah, Tommy Hamilton was hurt and Paul White as well. It put a lot of pressure on me and made me grow up a lot faster.
Speaking of that, it looks like you’ve lost some of your body fat. Have you been working a lot on your conditioning this year? I remember that it was something that you wanted to work on the last time I spoke with you.
Yeah, I was speaking with all of my coaches and the thing that they thought that would prevent me from getting to the highest level would be me being out of shape. I wanted to focus on that.
[private]
You guys played a very tough schedule this year, traveling around the country at various showcases and tournaments. How does it help you now and into the future?
It helps. It just helps to play against other top players in the country, you know, and other top high schools. It was just a great experience.
And you get to experience different places.
Yeah, yeah, definitely
What’s your current size?
I’m like 6’11,” 275.
Let's talk about visits. What about some of the visits you’ve taken?
Sure, I went to Nebraska recently. I’ve been up to Ohio State. I visited Duke. I went to North Carolina and Arizona as well. They’re all great campuses.
Can you talk a little bit about each of them?
Yeah, Duke speaks for itself. Meeting Coach K. it was just beautiful. It was great to talk to Coach K and look at their facilities. And North Carolina had a great team.
Did you get to see any games in person this season?
When I went to Arizona, I went to a football game. I had a fun time there and the weather is always nice.
What were you looking for on those visits?
I’m looking to see how happy the players are on campus, how the players and coaches respond to each other, and then other students and how they interact with the team.
I remember that you said that you went to Whitney Young, not because of the basketball, but because it had the reputation for being the best school in Chicago.
Yeah, absolutely, that’s right.
You’re originally from Arkansas, can you talk a little bit about your background?
Yeah, I’m originally from Arkansas, but I moved to Chicago in the fourth grade.
I know you also have a Nigerian heritage. Was your father born in Nigeria or your grandfather?
No, my grandpa was born in Nigeria, but my father was actually born in Chicago.
In terms of roles, what was your role for Whitney Young and what do you feel your role is for this team?
With Whitney Young, pretty much I had to do everything this year. I had to rebound, score inside, and block shots. On this team, I pretty much have one role: to be a dominant low-post man and rebound. I have a bunch of help on this team.
I was looking through my notes and saw that you wore your dad’s number.
Oh, yeah, I wore #32, I didn’t even know it was my dad’s number, but, then, I wore #15 for my Olympic jersey, but I knew that was his number.
In terms of your recruiting timeline, how far along do you think you are? When do you think you’ll decide on a school?
I probably won’t decide on a school 'til my senior year.
Since you mentioned Tommy Hamilton before, what’s it like to play with him now that he’s healthy? Have you ever played with his father (7'2" Thomas Hamilton)? He used to be a good player and a massive guy.
No, I’ve actually never met his father in my life, but Tommy and I complement each other perfectly well out there on the court. I like playing with him.
Just out of curiosity, do you have a rivalry with Cliff Alexander (a 6'10" fellow sophomore from Curie HS in Chicago)? They seem to talk up on in the Chicago papers from time to time. He's about your size and age.
Yeah, Cliff’s a really great friend. And I have a rivalry with Jabari and Cliff, but we’re all great friends.
Can you talk about that last playoff game against Simeon? It was your second time seeing those guys (lost in December at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion) and you lead at the half. For your sake, I was sorry.
Oh, yeah, that was a heartbreaker against Simeon. I walked away feeling like we should've won that game. There were a couple of plays here and there, but we're really excited about the team that we'll bring back next year.
You've got a good shot next year.
Yeah, I think so too.
(Interrupted by 6'10" sophomore Dakari Johnson)
Now, he's a rival.
Yeah, Dakari's a rival (laughs)
This year, you'll be playing against seventeens exclusively. What did you gain last year from facing players that were two age groups up in the EYBL?
Yeah, everybody's got better ball skills at the seventeen level. They're more developed physically. It's a challenge, game in and game out in the EYBL.
I spoke with you after you played in your first game and you had just faced Elijah Macon, who was shorter than you, but built like a bull. You said he was the toughest guy that you had guarded at that time.
Oh, yeah, I remember.
One of the unique things about your game is that you're a back-to-the-basket player in an age where there are a lot of big guys that want to face up or play away from the basket.
Yeah, it's just something that I'm real comfortable with. I've been doing it since I've been in seventh or eight grade. It's helped and now I have a lot of confidence with my back to the basket.
I know that you read some of your articles. What goes through your head when you see some local scouts saying that you're the best Chicagoland center or big man since Eddy Curry?
Oh, yeah, I've read that, but..
You just go about your business.
Yeah, I don't feel like I've achieved anything yet. I'm hungry.
Well, that's a good attitude. You've got those big, "soft" hands. How much of an advantage does that give you over your fellow bigs? Also, how do you account for having soft hands?
(Mac Irvin teammate throws a fake mouse)
Sorry about that. Yeah, everybody always talks about having great hands. I think it's a pretty big advantage. Well, at least, mentally, you know, knowing that you have them.
One dimension that you've worked on this year is your face-up game..
Yeah, my coaches are always telling that I've got to continue to perfect my low-post game, but I've also got to extend my range and expand my game.
I remember that was you wanted to add a jumper and be able to finish around the basket with either hand at the end of last summer.
Yeah, exactly, both of those things.
One things that helps you differentiate yourself from some of the softer big men is that you don't mind contact at all.
Yeah, no, absolutely, it's something that I actually enjoy. I love to get in there and mix it up. I love to be aggressive.
And then you can knock down your free throws to help your team too.
Absolutely, you've got to take advantage of those free throw shots. You can win or lose sometimes by just a few shots, here and there.
You guys lost Mac Irvin over the offseason. He was obviously a major figure in Chicago basketball over the past few decades. He was always nice to me, but can you tell the audience your thoughts on Mac Irvin's passing?
It was sad. You know this year we're going to try to put our egos aside and just try to win the Peach Jam for him and in his memory. He was a very nice man.
Speaking of your Mac Irvin team, what's your relationship like right now with Jabari (Parker)?
Oh, you know Jabari is just someone that I've known since seventh grade and he's just somebody that I can always talk to.
He's, sort of, going through some of the same things that you are, but just a year ahead.
Yeah, exactly, we're experiencing a lot of the same things with the college coaches and the fans and everybody coming at you, but it's just nice to have Jabari.
The next one I was going to ask you about, but, unfortunately, I couldn't confirm if it was true. Someone said that before you visited there, that Coach K said something to the effect that you could've started or played for him this year. Did he actually say that to you or this just an urban legend?
Oh, wow, no, I didn't hear that. If he said that, then it's really humbling to hear, but I don't believe that. I couldn't have. It's still good to hear.
You mentioned about five schools before that you had visited. Have you cut down or reduced your list at all?
No, I haven't reduced my list just yet.
Who are some of the schools that you're interested in?
Pretty much everybody. I'm hearing from Ohio State. I'm hearing from Duke. Who else? Illinois, Michigan State, DePaul, Arizona, and UConn.
In the Chicago papers, they've written a lot about that Illinois job and the hiring process. As I recall, you were a Sun-Times guy, but did you pay any attention to the various articles about potential coaches or Coach Groce?
I did a little bit. I spoke with the Illinois coach soon after he got the job.
Well, I'm sure that you're a major target. He ought to be after you.
Yeah, well (laughs)
Lastly, let's just close by talking about what you hope to accomplish this summer.
Sure, well, first, I'd like to win a championship for Mac Irvin. That's my top goal. Then, personally, I'd like to play hard for the majority of each game and keep my conditioning up. I've been trying to work on my conditioning and, hopefully, it can pay off.
I remember last year around this time you were focused on winning the gold medal. That was what you were targeting.
Yeah, well, we won the gold medal.
I was proud of you.
Thanks.
I saw that picture that you put up of you, Coach (Mike) Jones, and Tyus (Jones) in Mexico.
(laughs) Yeah, well, that was a great experience. Now, I just hope that I can make the team again.
Future Blue Devil Forward Amile Jefferson, Photo by Andrew Slater/BDN
Duke landed its second commitment of the 2012 class when Friends Central forward Amile Jefferson pledged to the Blue Devils. Jefferson, who was a McDonald's All-American this March, will bring length, skill around the basket, a good basketball IQ, and versatility to the Duke frontline. Although the courtship was quite lengthy, it heated up this January when Coach Krzyzewski extended a scholarship offer to the cerebral big man.
6'8" Amile Jefferson, Photo by Adidas/Getty
Jefferson, who recently won his fourth consecutive Pennsylvania Independent Schools State Title for his suburban Philadelphia school, visited Duke for a third time on March 3 and 4 with his dad, Malcolm Musgrove. Jefferson has been on Duke's radar for several years. Before his sophomore year at Friends' Central, an academically challenging Quaker school in Wynnewood, PA, Amile was one of two rising sophomores who attended Duke's Elite Camp. In the autumn of his junior year, Amile watched Duke unveil its fourth National Championship banner at the Countdown to Craziness.
The forward with a seven foot wingspan also considered N.C. State, Villanova, Ohio State, Kentucky, and Temple. Amile Jefferson was recruited by Duke Coaches Mike Krzyzewski and Chris Collins. Jefferson is Duke's first Philadelphia player since current Charlotte Bobcat Gerald Henderson suited up for the Blue Devils.
On March 28, he joined fellow Blue Devil incoming freshman Rasheed Sulaimon at the United Center in Chicago for the McDonald's All-American game. In fourteen minutes, Jefferon tallied eight points, three rebounds, two steals, and an assist for the East team. This April, the Philadelphian scored twenty-six points and grabbed five rebounds, earning the MVP of the Derby Classic at Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY.
For the second consecutive year, Jefferson won Pennsylvania's Gatorade Player of the Year and was named Pennsylvania's Class AA Player of the Year. Over the course of his career with the Phoenix of Friends' Central, alma mater of former Syracuse All-American Hakeem Warrick, Amile Jefferson scored over fifteen hundred points, grabbed over eight hundred rebounds, and swatted away nearly two hundred shots.
6'8" Amile Jefferson averaged twenty points, ten rebounds, and three blocks this year en route to a 21-5 record for his Wynnewood, Pennsylvania school. Jefferson provides Duke with a coveted second multi-year player with long-term pro potential in the 2012 class. To this point, Jefferson, the second highest-rated senior in the class of 2012 by HoopScoop, has largely been able to overcome having no strength regimen, but in a prior interview with me, Amile has said he's anxious to start a college strength and conditioning program in order to make his game more college-ready.
Amile Jefferson, Photo by Andrew Slater/BDN
McDonald's All-American voter and veteran scout Tom Konchalski of HSBI said of Amile Jefferson, "He's a young colt who's waiting for his body to blossom, but he has a really good feel for the game. Right now, he's probably more of a 4/3 and, obviously, he's going to have get stronger, but, in the ACC, it's not as if he's going to the Big Ten or the Big East, which is even more of a physical conference. In terms of style of play, if he were to go to Duke, that would be a good pick, but he's still got to get stronger in order to be able to play both sides of the court. He's a guy who has some perimeter skills..not an explosive athlete, but, when he starts to working to improve himself physically, his legs will get stronger. He will get quicker and he'll get more lift off the ground. He's a guy who has a good feel for the lane and the baseline. He's almost like an old-time player around the lane. He knows how to finish without going above the rim or jumping over people. He knows how to use his body to get between the defender and the ball. He knows how to shield the ball and reverse it. He has a really good feel for the game and he's a really good kid. He's also a good student."
Note - We've opened up our most recent chat with Duke bound Matt Jones to the public in order to give you an idea of the types of interviews you will gfind as a member of BDN Premium. On the Monday after Thanksgiving, Matt Jones committed to Duke, but that didn't make him any less hungry. Embracing the target on his back, the now 6'5" DeSoto (TX) junior shooting guard led his DeSoto Eagles to a 33-6 record.
At times, his Eagles were nationally ranked and reached the Texas 5A regional finals, but fell to Naaman Forest 56-49 to conclude the junior's high school season. For the season, Matt Jones, regarded as arguably the best long-distance shooter in the 2013 class, averaged nearly nineteen points, nine rebounds, and over three assists per game. After the season, MaxPreps named the sharpshooter to its Junior All-American Team, along with Duke recruits Julius Randle, Jabari Parker, and Al Freeman.
His older 5'9" sister, Jordan Jones, who committed as a point guard to the Texas A&M Aggies, played in the McDonald's All-American Game and won the Powerade skills competition. Ten months from now, Jones is likely to join her in the small fraternity of McDonald's All-Americans.
Right now, the spiritual Matthew Jones is teaming up with his close friend and 6'9" running mate, Julius Randle, to form a dangerous one-two punch for their Texas Titans AAU team. The team has gone 8-1 so far over the first two legs of Nike's EYBL. Through the first nine game in the competitive EYBL, Jones is the eighth leading scorer (17.7 ppg) and fifth in three-pointers made, 26 (shooting 48.1% from beyond the three-point arc). He's tried to become a more well-rounded and dangerous scorer, while adding an improved rebounding component by taking advantage of his prototypical shooting guard frame and willingness to battle big men for rebounds.
After an EYBL game, Jones spoke with BDN about what the coaches have asked him to work on, recruiting Julius Randle, his development as a defender, and playing with a target on his back, amongst other topics.
You guys were nationally ranked at times and made it to the regional finals. How did you feel overall about your high school season?
Well, it was a tough loss. Being one of the favorites to win it all, I mean, it was definitely a disappointment at the end of the season, but I mean I really loved the guys on this team. Overall, it was a good season, though. I mean I'm proud of my guys and I wish we would've went further, but it was a really great season and a lot of other programs would've loved to have made it as far as we did.
How was the Hall of Fame Game? It's an interesting idea to have a postseason tournament that includes a few top juniors and plays it in the Final Four city.
Yeah, it was pretty fun. I mean I loved it. Just the experience. It got me better as a person and as a player. It showed me some things that I can work on and improve on.
Your sister, Jordan, was a McDonald's All-American. Most people don't seem to ask you about her at all, but I was just curious what were your emotions when you saw her at the event and when she won the skills competition? You must've been very proud.
Oh, yeah, I love my sister. I mean we're very competitive and I do mean very competitive, but she definitely raised the bar in the family. I mean I don't want to be in her shadows. So, I have to make it. I have to do what she did and go beyond. (laughs)
You guys must have an incredible gene pool.
Yeah, we did. We've been blessed.
The odds on that are staggering. The coaches have been watching you and checking in on you recently.
Yeah, we're definitely talking. They've just told me to play hard, play defense, and just show what I can do besides shooting. Just show my whole game.
Well, I was going to ask you about that. What have they recommended that you concentrate on?
Dribbling. Just dribbling and focusing more on the defensive end. That's gotta be my focus. Mostly, just hard work
For those that haven't seen you play since last summer, what's the one aspect of your game that you've developed most over the past few months?
Dribbling. I can dribble more now. I mean if they needed me to now I could play a little point. My decision-making is better. My IQ is better.
With exceptional shooters, there's always or often an issue of pushing your boundaries and expanding your game, while not taking away from your core strength or letting it deteriorate. How do you try to balance the two?
Yeah, I mean I work on my shooting with my shooting coach, Coach Jerome. I get a lot of shots up with him and we just always shoot, but, at the same time, we also work on a little dribbling.
In DeSoto?
DeSoto, yeah, and some other places. I just try to get a lot of dribbling in. You know in between the shooting and sprinkle in some defense here and there. You know ball handling and IQ and stuff like that.
What about your body? Have you been working out too?
Yeah, I've been hitting the weights a little bit, you know. You can see in the upper body (laughs).
(laughs) Yeah, you look a little more defined. A little less baby fat
Yeah, I'm trying to get there.
Since you brought up your defense, how would you assess it right now? Where is your defense compared to where you want it to be?
I want to be the guy who can lock down the best player on the other team. That's where I want to get to. I feel like I'm getting close, but I'm not there yet. That's the goal. I try to use my size.
How tall are you now, Matt?
I'm 6'5" now. So, I feel like I've been blessed with good height. I've grown a little bit, but I just want to be a lockdown defender. I like taking the other guy out and locking him down. I want people to view me that way. That's the thing that I've tried to take my pride in. My defense.
More people need to take some pride on that side of the ball. This next one is sort of a touchy or awkward issue. People are always interested in recruiting and you're obviously very close with Julius. Are you helping to recruit him to Duke with you or do you just stay away from that area or topic completely?
Yeah, I mean I'm always in his ear. I try not to be in his ear too much, but I mean at the same time we're brothers and we've got a good relationship. So, we're pretty comfortable talking about anything. I definitely whisper to him here and there. (laughs)
What are you hoping to accomplish this summer?
Simply, just getting better. I want to show the coaches at Duke that I'll be ready to play as soon as I get on the courts at Duke. I want to prepare as much as I can now. I want to show them how hungry I am. I hope you can see that I'm hungry.
That's important.
Yes, sir.
Just out of curiosity, Texas is obviously very strong in 2013, but do you have any sort of rivalry with either Keith Frazier, who is both from your area and plays your position, or even the Harrison twins?
Yeah, I mean people compare us, but I mean it is what it is. I don't really have rivalries, but I mean, if you're good, I just want to take the challenge. I want to take you down.
I noticed that you guys didn't play against each other this season.
No, we didn't, but I would've liked to. If you're good, I want to take the challenge of guarding you. That's my thing.
I'd like to see the two of you match-up. No ducking.
Yeah, me too (laughs).
Alright, we'll settle it. This is your second year playing in the EYBL. Last year, you guys were a little young and then you had to step up and score more in Dallas when Julius went down with an injury. How do you think you've benefitted from that trial by fire last year?
Just facing all of that talent and you know so many of those or these guys are going to be college-level players. You know, game in and game out, Nike or EYBL has been great about having all of these really good teams. It's just a really good experience. These are some of the same guys that you'll be facing in college. So, it's good.
Well, you also personally stepped up your game last year.
Yeah, yeah, well, I needed to for my team.
For the younger guys in the audience, what do you think is the secret to your three-point shooting success?
Repetition. Just repetition. You've got to get out there and shoot. Figure out what's working and just keep repeating it.
Repetitions.
Yes, and being focused.
Other than dribbling and defense, what are some things that the Duke coaches have asked you to work on?
Just being a better teammate and being a better leader.
Does your football background help you at all?
No, not really. (laughs)
Your rebounding numbers were way up in high school this year? Was that something you concentrated more on? Some fans seemed happy to see a guard that could rebound.
Yeah, it was something that I thought I could do. There aren't too many rebounding guards in the country if you look around. They don't want to get in there with the big guys. That's what I want to bring. If that's another way that I can separate myself, then I'll just stick my nose in there and be tough.
Did or do you feel like you've had a target on your back since you committed to Duke?
I feel like it. I feel like it. It just keeps you on your toes. It's been a good motivator for me.
For fans that don't know you, what do you like to do away from the court?
Bowling. I love to bowl.
A regular Lebowski. Really? That was something that Nolan Smith was into. I think he thought it helped him.
Yeah, me too. I don't know what it is, but I love it.
You're moving better this year without the ball. Was that something that you've tried to work on more this year?
Oh, yeah, I'm constantly trying to move around, throw my defender off, and just get open for my teammates.
Lastly, you were mentioning before working on your handle and strength? How far along are you, compared to where you eventually want to get to be?
Yeah, I work on those two things constantly with Coach Jerome. He's right here. He's the key to my success.
“Point guards should only be judged by whether you win or lose. The rest of that stuff doesn’t matter.’’
-Mike D’Antoni
In the humid central Florida city of Apopka, a 6'1" point guard named Joel Berry II is working on perfecting his craft. For the past few months, he's worked with trainer Cornell Rivers, who worked with the Celtics' Marquis Daniels, on taking his shooting to another level. Joel makes 6,000 shots per weekend. These sessions can take between four and eight hours.
This March, the sophomore point guard led his young Lake Highland Prep squad to their first state championship game. Joel scored twenty-two points in the opening half of the 4A title game against Pine Crest, but the Lake Highland Highlanders ultimately lost that game after Berry, finishing with twenty-six points, fouled out of the game with 3:07 left in the game, missing their remaining six shots of the game. After finishing with a 28-4 record and returning all of their starters, they will be early favorites to win their first state title next season and are scheduled to play in the challenging City of Palms Tournament in Ft. Myers, FL next December.
For his efforts, the always gracious Berry II became the first sophomore in Florida's history to win the Mr. Basketball Award. Joel also was named Gatorade's Player of the Year in Florida. Gatorade cited his championship game run, his 3.3 GPA, and his volunteer work as the reasons for the sophomore's distinction. For the season, Joel averaged over 23 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists per game.
This AAU season, Berry has formed a dynamic 1-2 punch with Dakari Johnson, a 6'10" sophomore from Brooklyn who plays at Montverde Academy for Coach Kevin Boyle. Despite the youth, the Florida based-team, Each One Teach One, has gone 8-1 through the Minneapolis and Hampton legs of the Nike EYBL. Each One Teach One is the AAU program that Duke freshman and soon-to-be NBA guard, Austin Rivers, played for.
One of his E1T1 coaches is Joel Berry, Sr. Mr. Berry was a standout multi-sport athlete in his own regard. He was an Adidas All-American football player in 1987 as well as an All-Metro Orlando performer in both track and basketball. Mr. Berry opted to pursue football at the University of Central Florida, but, unfortunately, injured his knee as a sophomore and never played football again. He's been able to stay in good shape via a mix of strength training and the martial arts. After going back to school, Mr. Berry is scheduled to earn a Master's degree this month from the University of Central Florida. Joel's sister, Kourtnie, just helped lead Rollins College of Winter Park, FL to a Division II Final Four, the furthest in program history.
Nearly 6'2" Joel Berry II, Photo by Andrew Slater
Last year, playing two age groups up, Joel Berry II felt he needed to score more in order for his E1T1 team to have any chance at victory. Coaches Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun, and Billy Donovan watched the then rising sophomore play, at times, over the course of the limited July period, but he's anxious to show the improvements in his overall game, particularly his on-the-ball defense, his improved physique and strength, which enables him to take the physicality that accompanies being a penetrating point guard, and ability to facilitate an offense.
After a recent game, Joel, who, from a personality standpoint, has managed to have the near perfect blend of being a tiger on the court and a good-natured gentleman off of it, spoke with me again after an EYBL game.
What are some things that you've improved on most since last year?
I've worked on my leadership a lot. I'm a real quiet person.
So am I.
Yeah, so I just tried to go out there and play basketball, but people had been telling me that I have to be more vocal out on the court. So, I've tried to work on that a lot. It's one thing that I definitely feel like I've improved on. I've been going to a lot of leadership programs and that's helped a lot.
That's great. What are you hoping to show coaches this year?
I just want to show them that I can be a leader and run a team. Every time, I can't wait to just go out there and play and help us win.
Well, I think you've got a much better team to work with than last year's team. No offense to last year's team, but you guys are older and made a great offseason acquisition by picking up the big fella, Dakari (Johnson).
Yes, sir, we've got a lot of size this year and it's important that I get them the ball in spots where they can be successful with it. We've got a lot of players this year that can score and so it'll take a lot of pressure off of me to score. I can just lead my team and distribute the ball. Last year, you know I needed to score a lot for us to try to win. This year, it's been great because it feels like more we're more of a team out there.
Leadership is [private] the thing that the coaches who watched you last summer will notice most, however, this year.
Yes, sir, absolutely.
Now, it wasn't always smooth sailing for you last year, but how do you think the experience of playing EYBL last year will help you this year?
Oh, it'll help a lot. I've seen my game really go up in high school basketball and then, now, we're competing against the best of the best. I love this. In high school, Florida is really not strong, but, when I come or get to challenge myself against this level of competition, game in and game out, I can really showcase my game.
You'll definitely get more exposure.
Yes, sir.
Back to Dakari (Johnson) for a second, what dynamic does he bring to your team? He's a nice kid too.
Oh, yeah, he's been great for us. We really didn't have a dominant big man to where we can go inside.
You two will make a good tandem.
Yes, sir, and we can work a nice two-man game and then, with our other big men, we can dump the ball into Dakari. We have faith in Dakari because he's one of the best in the nation, regardless of class.
This high school season was a major step forward for you, both personally and your team.
Oh, it was just great. We made it to the state championship game for the first time in forty-two years. Then, we ended up losing, but we accomplished something that no one else in our school's history had and we're going to bring back..
Well, for the next two years, you guys are going to be the favorites.
Yes, sir, for next year, we bring back our entire starting five. It should be great fun, but we can't afford to rest. We need to keep working.
That's the attitude.
Yes, sir, and then, personally, I swept everybody in Central Florida with the awards.
I know. I was proud of you.
Yes, thank you, I was the first sophomore to win the Mr. Basketball Award.
Sure, let's talk about that award specifically.
Oh, yeah, it was a major honor to get that award because usually they give it to seniors and players that are going out, but I put in an enormous amount of work and I just thought that I deserved it this year.
Well, of course, you deserved it.
(laughs)
People are always interested in recruiting. What schools are recruiting you right now?
UNC, Duke, Kentucky…just a lot of ACC and SEC schools. Well, I've been receiving them from all over, but those are the main two conferences. Right now, I'm looking into it and I am serious about it, but, once it gets deeper into the summer, I'll get even more serious about it. I'll talk more about it with my parents. I owe it to the schools to put some serious thought into it.
I saw Coach (Roy) Williams at this game.
Yes, sir.
Who handles your recruitment mostly at this point, your coaches or your parents?
Oh, my dad handles it.
Well, he's a good filter. He's been through it as a two-sport player through football and has been coaching basketball for a while now.
Yes, sir, but there are a lot of schools that've expressed some interest. It can be hectic for him, but I'm really happy and grateful for the options.
Going back to Carolina and Duke, how much interest have they expressed in you so far? What's your interest in both? I know that you were a big Carolina fan growing up.
Yes, sir, but I just like their style of play. I like the coaches. They're a good academic school too and that's what I'm looking for.
I remember that you were about a 3.5 student as a freshman and then I heard that you were about a 3.3 this year too.
Yes, sir. I really want to be able to have something that I can fall back on in case anything happens or for things that I'd like to do after basketball. I mean I just love basketball, but I'd like to know that there's something else in case
Well, you're going to hopefully live a long life. I always think that it's a good insurance plan for players. God forbid anything happens, but, at least, you'll have something of value that an injury can't take away. Would you be open to Duke as well?
Oh, yes, I like Coach Mike Krzyzewski. I like the way he carries himself and the way he runs his program. I like the pace that they play too. I would be open to any school. I'm grateful for every school that expresses an interest.
What's your current size?
I'm about 6'1" and a half. My weight is 192 right now. I've gone up from 185 at the end of last year.
Are you trying to get bigger or add muscle? I know that your dad does a lot of training.
I'm not really trying to get bigger, but just get bigger so that I can handle the more physical nature of being a guard. I wanted to be able to get physical with the other guards and also be able to take whatever they did to me.
Sure, well, you like to penetrate and so you're getting hit every time you go down the lane.
Absolutely, that's the reason. That's mainly what I've been working on or towards. Mainly, it's been my shoulders and chest.
Well, you definitely look more developed in those areas.
Yes, sir, I've been working hard with my coaches and trainers on improving in those areas because I've taken a lot of hits. I like to get to the hole and I like to dish it off.
Well, your dad was in good shape and worked as a trainer.
Yes, he's been a part of it too.
I remember that you worked out before school at about 6 every morning. Three days a week on strength and then on that VertiMax for the other two days.
Yeah, I never took a break. You can always work on your conditioning, sir. I tried to improve my explosiveness and quickness.
Would you say that a "scoring point guard" is a fair description of you?
It can be, yes, definitely.
On last year's team, your squad was so young and so they needed you to score.
Absolutely, on last year's team, they needed me to score, but, on this year's team, we've got plenty of scorers and so I don't need to try to score on every possession. Scoring hasn't been on my mind this year, but, if I have to, I have to.
In terms of a timeline, do you have a time when you'd like to either cut down on your list or decide on a school?
Well, yes, sir, I think by mid-season next year, I'll probably try to cut down on the list.
Have you visited any schools recently and do you have any planned?
Oh, I've visited Florida and Miami, but that's really about it. I plan on visiting a lot of schools this summer. So, hopefully, that'll help too.
What will you be looking for when you make your visits? Comfort level..
Yeah, comfort level, do I fit in with them, I'd like to be able to have or build a good relationship with the coaches. That'll be very important. I'd like to have a relationship with my college coaches like I have with my AAU coaches, you know, someone that I can talk to and will work with me to improve my game. That'll be what I'll be looking for on the trips.
Tell the audience a little about your father. He was a two-sport athlete, but hurt his knee as like a full or running back and never played again. That was a real shame.
Yeah, he was an All-American in high school and played for Central Florida and it was a shame, but he's fought back and he's going to get his Master's degree now from Central Florida.
I'm glad to hear that.
Oh, yes, sir, and he's graduating and looking forward to starting his own company.
That's that entrepreneurial spirit.
Yes, sir, that's why I'd like to study engineering or even architecture.
Using that mind of yours.
Yes, sir.
What are some of your goals, short-term and long-term?
Long-term, my dream is to make it to the NBA and then, short-term, is just to win the Peach Jam. That's my focus.
Those are good goals. By the way, what do you hope to accomplish in the next high school season?
I'd love to win the state title. We bring back almost our whole team and I'd just love to win the title with these guys.
Who are going to be some of your toughest competitors next year?
Well, we've been invited to the City of Palms, which is big for our school. I don't know who we're going to face there.
They always have a loaded field down there. That'll be good for your team's playoff run and also bring some exposure as well.
Yes, sir, they're always supposed to have very tough competition over there. I'm looking forward to it because I know that there are a lot of good schools out there. Hopefully, we'll be up to the challenge, but I like the challenge of it.
By the way, have you ever played against Tyus Jones and, if so, how'd you do? How would you compare yourself with him?
We played against each other at the USA. He's a great player and he's a slasher. I respect him, but I haven't spoken to him recently.
Is there a rivalry between you two or not really?
Oh, no, it's friendly. We just go out there and play our hardest. I mean, on the court, I'm not looking for friends, but, off the court, it's cool and we're just playing our games.
Who are some other point guards in your class that people should take note of?
Larry Austin. He's a great player and a great kid. We've gone against each other and he makes me go hard. I make him go hard.
Who are some other players that people should keep an eye out for in your class? Obviously, Dakari..
Oh, well, Dakari, Paul White..
Jahlil?
Yes, Okafor. I like being around all of those guys. I like them all.
What about Stanley Johnson?
Oh, yeah, Stanley, he's talented too and a funny kid.
Yeah, he's always cracking jokes.
Yeah, he is. Funny kid.
Who else?
Well, I've met and played against Andrew Wiggins, but I've never actually talked to him. I've seen him around and he's always working. He seems like a great kid. I feel like I've seen a lot of players in my class, but I really don't feel like I know a lot of them.
I remember you told me that Austin Rivers was the best player that you've played with or against. Is Rivers still the best player that you've faced?
Yes, I think so. I played with him. Not really against him. I mean I like the way he plays and how he continues to try to make other players better and improve on different aspects of his game. He's so dangerous and yet, he's not satisfied. He's hungry. I've really worked a lot on the defensive end. I've tried to make it my focus. I love to work on the defensive end. I almost don't even care about working on my offense, but I have to. I can't let that slide, but I do actually like to start out by working on my defense. I'm trying to make it better and better.
In what ways do you try to work on your defense? How would you assess your defense as of today?
It's gotten a lot better. I've been doing a lot of side or lateral movements. I want to make my lateral quickness as fast as possible. I've working on my on-the-ball defense.
Getting low?
Yes, sir, I'm getting low. My hands are active. My defense has improved a lot. My dad always tells me to start with my defense. If my offense doesn't come, well, at least, we can always give our best on defense.
Is LeBron still your favorite player?
I love the way he plays. He plays so hard on both ends. I just really enjoy watching him.
For an audience that hasn't seen you play yet, give them a little scouting report and what would say are your strengths and weaknesses?
My weakness had been that I needed to work on my left hand to make it as strong as my right.
Well, you've got a strong right. I almost wonder why they don't try to overplay your right.
Yes, my strengths are getting to basket and either dishing off or scoring. In terms of a scouting report, I'd say that if my man gets up on me, I'm going to take him to the hole and, if he backs off, I can pull up on him.
Who do you try to model your game after?
Well, on the court, Derrick Rose, but, off the court, I'd like to model myself after LeBron James with the camps and helping young people in the community.
What do you think is the key thing to having or developing good court vision?
Keeping your head up and looking for the big man, if possible. If he's open, you've got to find a way to get it to him or penetrate and drop it off. I don't want to be one of those guards that tries to just force a shot. As a point guard, you're supposed to distribute the ball. That's my job.
How has the experience been "playing up" in age groups?
It's been good and challenging. I think that if I just played in my age group all these years that I would've been a little lazy and I didn't want that. I've liked the challenge. I feel like every time out there, I have to give it my all.
How does the EYBL compare to your high school league?
In high school, you can get away with the little stuff, but here you can't. It's constantly challenging. In high school, we'll sometimes play against some players who could be on the circuit, but not on this constant level. High school really hasn't been that hard.
What would you like the audience to walk away knowing about you?
That I'm humble. I don't like to talk about myself. I try to be of service to others in any ways that I can help.
Community service
Yes, sir. I've done community service. I also used to play football. I was a quarterback and strong safety, but I used to be pretty good at it.
Who are some people that you'll turn to for guidance in a college decision, whenever you do decide?
My high school coach, Coach Bowlin, I love him. I feel like whenever I have problems, I can come to him with anything. He always helps me out.
I assume your father.
Oh, yes, my dad and also my mom and my family. That's my guidance.
Recently, I spoke with Marcus about, among other things, that life-changing weekend in Minnesota, about speaking with Coach Mike Krzyzewski, as well as Bryan's reaction to the newfound interest in his younger brother.
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