Damian Lillard-Portland Trail Blazers

           College basketball recruiting has experienced a dramatic increase in public popularity over the past decade. With such showcase events like the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and USA Basketball, most basketball fans are already familiar with players like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Jabari Parker long before they stepped into the spotlight of NCAA basketball.

            After being heavily recruited throughout high school, or even earlier, basketball elites will line up their hats—or as Arizona freshman, Stanley Johnson, did, show off his shoes — and announce which big-time program has made the best case for the player to commit to its school. In many cases, the recruit’s decision is broadcast in front of thousands of viewers—students, alumni and staff, biting their nails and hoping to see their logo stand out amongst the others.  

            The instant the decision is announced, the recruit’s name is splashed across social media and nearly every basketball fan in the country is instantly aware of which logo the player will be sporting the following fall.

Many of these players go on to lead such renowned programs like Duke or Kentucky or to a high seed in the NCAA tournament before being picked up in the NBA Draft’s Lottery.

For Portland Trailblazers point guard Damian Lillard, however, his trip to being the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery was a bit different than most of these players.

Growing up, the 6-foot-3, 195 pound point guard from Oakland, California received little attention for his basketball skills compared to other players in his class. He was not invited to play in high school all-star games, by no means had big-time college coaches knocking on his door, and in retrospect, the first time he really introduced himself to the nation was while shaking David Stern’s hand on stage at the Barclay’s Center during the NBA draft.

In fact, Lillard attended three different high schools due to complications on the basketball court. Striking the rawest nerve relates back to his sophomore year season at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School in Alameda, California where, according to Lillard, he did not receive any playing time at all from head coach Donald Lippi.

Lillard was, and still is eight years later, so frustrated by his lack of playing time at the end of his one and only season with the Pilots that he decided to transfer to Oakland High School, where he would earn much more playing time, lead the league in scoring and finish his high school career receiving first team all-league honors his junior and senior seasons.

“That was big for me.” Lillard said of his decision to transfer, “I was so pissed off about (not playing). I felt like it was me against the world. I just wanted to prove (Lippi) wrong.”

As upset as he was with the season, Lillard said it played one of the biggest roles in molding him into the player that he is today. He gained confidence from the extra work that it forced him to put into improving his game and enhanced his faith in knowing that he could have the success on the basketball court for which he had always strived.  

One person that Lillard distinctively recognizes for sticking by his side during his rollercoaster ride of a high school career is Raymond Young, coach of the AAU Oakland Rebels. Young met a then-5-foot-5 Lillard when Damian was in the eighth grade. The two would train together for the remainder of that year before Lillard joined the Rebels.

According to Lillard, Young stressed the importance of working hard every day in order to earn a college scholarship.

“Anytime we went on the road and would want to do something, he would always say, ‘This is not a fun trip. It’s a business trip. You don’t have a scholarship, yet.’ He kept us hungry.” Lillard said, “He taught us how to work.”

Although steadily improving his game in high school, Lillard still was not heavily recruited by college coaches. However, he has no complaints. His big-time offer did not come from Mike Krzyzewski or John Calipari, but instead it came from Randy Rahe and the Weber State Wildcats.

Having won six NCAA tournament games in only 15 appearances, the mid-major school in Ogden, Utah was by no means a nationally recognized basketball program before Lillard’s arrival in 2008.

Lillard did receive scholarship offers from other schools, but Weber State’s persistence and early belief in his potential is what set the school apart from the rest. Rahe and the rest of the Weber State coaching staff were the first to recruit Lillard, and when other schools tried to jump on the bandwagon, it was too late to sway him to their side.

Had he been faced with different opportunities earlier in his recruiting process, Lillard still does not think he would have changed anything regarding his decision to play for the Wildcats.

 “They represented everything that I was raised on: hard work, loyalty, being pushed...” Lillard said. “They told me, if you don’t go to class, you’re going to get sent home. If you don’t work hard, you’re not going to play.”

He added that he appreciated the apparent honesty in Weber State’s recruiting process.

“The whole recruiting process, it seemed like (other schools) were telling me, ‘You’re going to have everything and be great (if you come here).’ It kind of worried me because it was like this is what they tell everybody that they recruit. But for Weber State, it was like ‘I’m not going to kiss your butt. It’s going to be like this, and if you don’t like it then you can go somewhere else.’”

Lillard earned conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All Big Sky honors during his first year at Weber State. His progression escalated during his sophomore season when he averaged 19.9 points per game, leading the Wildcats to its second-straight regular season conference championship, while Lillard was named Big Sky Player of the Year. 

After a foot injury forced him to take a medical redshirt during his junior season, Lillard came back for the 2011-2012 season averaging 24.5 points per game, leading the nation in scoring for most of the year.

Less than seven years after riding his high school team's bench, Lillard finished his college career as the No. 2 scorer in Weber State history and entered the 2012 NBA Draft as arguably the top point guard prospect in the country. 

"With the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Portland Trailblazers select: Damian Lillard out of Weber State University."

These twenty simple words, most of which David Stern had uttered thousands of times before, meant more to Lillard than any other words he had heard through this point in his life. Receiving his red and black flat brim Trail Blazers hat, walking across the stage established that he had officially made it, as it does for most players on this late-June night. 

But for Lillard, it meant much more. Standing center stage, shaking David Stern's hand gave him the satisfaction that he had accomplished what he had set out to do seven years earlier: proving Donald Lippi wrong.

Lillard did not need national recognition in high school all-star games or a big-time college scholarship to make a name for himself. In 2013, he was unanimously named the NBA Rookie of the Year—only the fourth player to do so. The following season, Lillard became the first player ever to participate in every skills competition at the NBA All-Star game. Now, he is leading the Trail Blazers through its second-straight playoff appearance.

In a way, Lillard may not be the same jaw-dropping, buzzer-beating, series-winning player that he has proven to be today had he not been tested so much in high school. Lillard’s confidence that he gained with the extra time that he was forced to devote to his game in high school is still carried with him in every game that he plays today.

“I think there are a lot of players that can shoot the ball. There are a lot of players that can make plays and that can make big shots and do a lot of things. That’s the NBA. But I think that when it comes to the confidence and the situations that I like, my approach to the game sets me apart from the other players that I go up against.” 

Kyrie Irving- Cleveland Cavaliers

          In an October 2013 survey on NBA.com, NBA general managers were asked “If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the NBA, who would it be?” As expected, LeBron James held the vast majority of the responses, while Kevin Durant was the GM’s second choice. With both men having played in the league for years and having made their marks with MVP awards and several All-Star game and playoff appearances, it is no surprise that their names were first to come to the minds of those studying them every day. What may not have been as easily predicted was the GM’s third choice: Cleveland Cavaliers’ fourth year guard, Kyrie Irving.

            Of course, Irving has been known across the league as one the NBA’s top players; however, he has not always been discussed ahead of many other NBA veteran elite players, such as Chris Paul and Stephen Curry.

The 6’3”, 193 pound Irving out of Duke was the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, despite sitting out most of his college season due to injury. Since then, he has continued to wow opponents, coaches, and spectators across the league, while adding impressive accolades to his résumé.

“It’s obviously a great accomplishment to have the respect from the GM’s in the league as well as players,” says Irving, “It puts a lot more pressure on me, but that’s something you want as a player.”

He adds, “The recognition is a true testament to the hard work that I put into the game every single day, and it’s just what I expect for myself. It’s great to be up there with those two great guys in the league, but I just try to be the best player and best teammate for my team.”

In his first three NBA seasons, Irving played 33.7 minutes per game, while averaging 20.7 points— the second highest for a point guard in the NBA, behind Curry.  Adding on to that, Irving received the 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year Award, was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014, and was named the 2014 NBA All-Star MVP. At the age of 21, this made him the youngest player to have been awarded the All-Star MVP since LeBron James in 2006. However, as impressive as this recognition may be, Irving is still not satisfied.

“Those are great individual accomplishments,” he says, “but for me it’s just about making the playoffs and trying to win a championship. Obviously, those things are going to make my career. The individual accomplishments are great and all, but I just want to win. I want to be a part of something that’s bigger than me, and that’s my team winning a championship.”

When it comes to the 2014 NBA offseason, it is no secret that GM David Griffin and the Cavs have stepped up their game in terms of trades and signings. After missing the playoffs last season, the Cavs are now predicted to lead the Eastern Conference standings, having acquired NBA All-Stars Lebron James and Kevin Love, among others.

Along with this new highly talented roster comes great pressure to win, especially in the struggling Eastern Conference. As much as the newly acquired players strive to win, no one is more aware of the Cav’s need to win than Irving.

“Obviously [winning] is going to be a process since we have some new pieces,” says Irving, “but the only thing that is going to matter is how well we come together and handle everything internally.”

Last season, at an average age of 24, the Cavs were the youngest team in the NBA. As a team with a high talent ceiling, lack of experience is a justifiable reason for their lack of success in the 2013-2014 Eastern Conference standings; however, it does give Cavs’ fans promise for the future.

As a twenty-two year old and one of the younger players on the team, Irving says, “Obviously, when you have the youngest team there’s going to be some advantages and disadvantages, but the only thing that we’ve learned is that we have a core group of young guys that had to grow really quickly, and, now that we have some veterans on the team, it’s going to kind of ease our roles a little bit or show us the proper way of how to be professionals. We have to figure it out. We’ve had a few veterans, but we haven’t had a lot of them, so every single day we are learning from each other and learning on the job.”

In addition to new faces between the baselines, the Cavs are bringing a new head coach to the sideline: David Blatt. As one of the most successful American basketball coaches in European history, Blatt is a four-time Israeli League “Coach of the Year” and 2014 Euroleague “Coach of the Year,” in addition to multiple league championships throughout Europe.

This being the Cavs’ third head coach in three seasons, Irving is excited to see what Blatt has to offer to the Cavs’ program and the NBA, along with his adjustment to the league as a whole.

“After meeting Coach Blatt for the first time, he just seemed like a genuine coach and a genuine person,” says Irving, “Obviously, he has won overseas. Coming to the NBA, it’s going to be his first time coaching here and my first time playing for him. I’m just excited to get to work with him and see how gifted he is as a coach. He has won a lot of games as a coach. We’ll just have to see how that can translate to the NBA.”

Irving has already experienced Hall of Fame-caliber coaching during his time at Duke and currently as a member of Team USA, playing under Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“Playing for Coach K, he just taught me how to really be a true professional especially at a young age. Going to Duke, we were number one in the country starting off. Unfortunately, I got hurt eight games in, but he had the trust in me to play in the NCAA tournament. That’s something you definitely want from a coach is someone who is going to allow you to be yourself and someone who is going to allow you to grow into that role.”

He adds, “I was around two great seniors at Duke in Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler. We had young guys on the team. We all had our own walks of life. Coach K just allowed me to grow into who I was going to become and that is who I am today. He caught me at a young age, and we’re still close to this day. That relationship we have goes far beyond the basketball court.”

Irving’s early life basketball influences included his father, Drederick Irving, along with Irving’s Godfather, former NBA great Rod Strickland. Irving’s father was a guard at Boston University in the 1980s before moving to Melbourne, Australia to play professionally. Having lost his mother at an early age, Irving credits his father for supporting him and helping shape him into the person who he is today.

“He’s helped me become a better man on and off the floor and has just made me ready for anything that is thrown my way,” says Irving, “That was a lot when I was 19 years old coming into the league, but now three years in, going on year four, he’s there every single day helping me emotionally, mentally, and physically, just staying ready all the time and keeping me grounded.”

Adding, “Losing my mom really made me figure out what is important in life, and that is the family that I do have: my dad and my two sisters. Everything that I do is for them and for the betterment of their future. Losing my mom is an unfortunate thing, but it happens in life. I’ve moved on from it, and now I’m just taking care of the family that I do have.”

As for his Godfather, Irving says, “He’s just helped my transition to the league be that much easier and prepared me for everything and anything that’s going to be thrown at me. He spent 17 years in the league, and, hopefully, I can spend as much time as him. It’s great to have a family member like that who can help you through anything.”

Despite having been surrounded by basketball greats throughout his entire life, Irving is only satisfied if he impresses one specific person: himself.

“No one has higher expectations for me than I do,” he says, “I just keep that in perspective and just expect more for myself than other people. I just go out there and try to remember the goals I set for myself and for my teammates and go out there and try to be the best player I can be.”

Adding, “Honestly, I just try to separate myself by being a complete player. I try to do everything out there, and whatever is needed at any moment of the game, I feel like I can do. For me, it’s just trying to be a complete player.”

Although the team may be experiencing hefty roster changes going into the 2014-2015 season, Irving believes his role as a player will remain the same.

 “Nothing is going to change,” he says, “I just have to continue to be myself and do whatever is best for the team.”

The Cavs open the 2014-2015 season on Oct. 30, against the New York Knicks. As mentioned earlier, they are predicted to be a top competitor for the Eastern Conference title, with their biggest competition in Chicago with the return of Derrick Rose and the Bulls.

“There have obviously been a lot of changes, so the expectations for everyone are higher,” says Irving, “The talent is there. The only thing that is going to matter is how well we come together as a team and how well we gel. It’s going to be an important season.”

Jaylin Fleming- St. Rita High School

           Typical fourteen-year old boys enjoy playing video games and watching TV, while many others are just barely breaking into the thought process of “what do I want to be when I grow up?” Despite participating in many aspects of the life of a typical teenager, Jaylin Fleming is by no means a “typical fourteen-year old boy.”

            Since an early age, Fleming has been recognized by highly reputable members of the basketball community for his advanced player development and leadership skills, which are beyond others in his age group. At the age of nine, Fleming was given the title “basketball prodigy” by Mouthpiece Sports, and as a fifth grader, he was recognized by the Chicago Tribune as one of “the best 10-year old hoops players in the U.S.”  

            Fleming’s profound basketball abilities have landed him appearances on the George Lopez Show and a McDonald’s commercial, among others. He also recently costarred in the movie “Dreams” in which he plays a talented athlete reconnecting with his father.

“They’ve all been amazing,” Fleming says of his unique experiences, “Meeting the people I’ve met and having these experiences have [created] an amazing life for me.”

Fleming details his surreal experience performing at the McDonald’s All American game under the spotlight of the United Center, “It was like I was a Bulls player, playing on the Bulls’ court, in the Bulls’ arena in front of 20,000 people.”

Although his display at the United Center may have been his most memorable, Fleming is quick to name his appearance on the George Lopez Show as his ultimate favorite, having shown off his ball handling skills on camera alongside NBA legend Reggie Miller, where he also won a year’s worth of DiGiorno’s Pizza.

Of course, Fleming enjoys the on-screen spotlight and free pizza, but what is most important to him is succeeding on the basketball court along his journey to the NBA with a hopeful stop in Chapel Hill on the way.

“I would like to be a great leader to my team in all aspects of the game. I want to be an all-city and all-state point guard, while winning a state championship. I want to graduate from high school and maintain great grades. Personally, I just want to be a great person to my little brother and my family. [However,] my biggest goal is to make it to my dream school: the University of North Carolina.”

In spite of his love for the Tar Heels, Fleming has looked to former Duke star and recent Milwaukee Bucks draftee Jabari Parker as one of his greater basketball influences stating, “I’ve known Jabari since he was in 7^th grade. I used to spend the night at his house and work out with him and train with his dad. He’s been a big influence, teaching me the game and just teaching me what he has learned throughout his career.”

Jabari’s father and former Golden State Warrior, Sonny Parker, has a high respect for Fleming’s game and sees great potential in the young star.

“He’s a good kid,” says Parker, “He has a real passion for the game, but the thing I like about Jaylin is we have a personal relationship beyond just basketball.”

Parker adds, “He’s a quick learner, he’s very coachable, and he listens. He always wants to get better and, most importantly, he’s a team player.”

Similar to Jabari Parker, Fleming has maintained a strong devotion to his religion throughout his life and basketball career.

“My faith is very important to me,” says Fleming, “My mom is a pastor, so she teaches me everything I know about the Lord. I feel like God has given me this talent, so I have to perfect it, work hard, and not give it up.”

He adds, “God keeps me stable and keeps me away from the distractions. People may try to leach on to me because of the good things that have happened to me so far, but God keeps me in order.”

Fleming is an active member of the youth organization “Triple Threat Mentoring,” which, according to their website, “facilitates relationships between youth and volunteers through passion-based programs.” Fleming has used his passion for basketball to connect with other kids his age who have been affected by defeats, such as incarceration and abandonment, and encourages them not to give up on their dreams, despite bumps in the road, just like he does not plan on giving up on his own goals.

“They don’t have anybody,” says Fleming of his experience with the program, “I have to learn to appreciate the life that I have and learn to be a better person because I have been blessed with this life, and they don’t have anything. It makes me appreciate what I have and inspires me to take advantage of the [life that I have been given].”

In a 2010 interview, Chicago Bulls’ star Derrick Rose was quoted stating, “[Jaylin] is better than me—that’s what’s crazy about it. His talent is one of a kind. Kids his age rarely do the stuff he does…He does moves that a grown-up does.”

        Fleming is humbled by Rose’s encouraging report, stating, “I feel like that’s a great accomplishment. I appreciate it, but I know I still have to keep focused on my game and not settle on that. Of course, I thank everyone that has given me those props because I really need it to keep me motivated, practicing, and working hard.”

Fleming is most well known on the court for his ball handling but still sees room for improvement in other aspects of his game.

 “I have great dribbling ability, and my jump shot has improved a lot through the years. It is becoming a deadly weapon of mine, but I have to be better on the defensive side of the court. I know I can be a much better defender. Also, I should improve on my lateral quickness because when I get older and go to high school, I’m going to need lateral quickness to keep up with the older kids.”

Fleming will attend St. Rita of Cascia High School, where he will play alongside University of Kentucky commit, Charles Matthews, for his first season.

“I know it’s a great program for me, and it is a great fit. The St. Rita coaching staff is great. My dad loves what the program is doing, and I love it too. Their academics are great, too, which is also important,” says Fleming.

Since his recognition on the court has become more frequent as Fleming’s publicity continues, he says that it only puts a bigger target on his back. However, as players recognize his game and go after him even more, he is only encouraged to step up and prove to others what the truth is behind the “Jaylin Fleming hype.”

“Now, I have to play harder and play like I’m supposed to play. I can’t back down for anybody because everybody wants my name now. I just have to play hard and play my game. That’s all.”

DJ Williams- Simeon Career Academy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adding, “and Coach Groce, too.”

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

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

Isaiah Canaan- Murray State University/ Houston Rockets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canaan is a self-proclaimed shooter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brandon Paul- University of Illinois

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Victor Oladipo- Indiana University

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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