Most high school basketball players are not used to playing a game in front of 5,000 fans that doesn’t end until nearly midnight.
Most high school basketball players are not accustomed to being hounded for pictures and autographs by children and adults alike.
Most high school basketball players don’t have to carry the weight of being touted as the future of the NBA.
Most high school basketball players are not Jayson Tatum.
It’s nearly midnight and Tatum has just had an efficient 21-point, 16-rebound performance in Chaminade’s 67-48 win over Christ the King and several fans in JQH Arena have stuck around not only to see the conclusion of the game, but to get a piece of the future Duke Blue Devil.
Each request for a picture or autograph is met with a head nod and smile.
He is used to it by now.
“It’s always happened since I’ve been in high school,” said Tatum. “Even now sometimes I forget that I’m just in high school, but I love it. I enjoy all the fans, the pictures and the autographs, because I used to look up to people and still do to guys in the NBA. I know it means a lot when I sign autographs and take pictures so I always do it.”
Tatum isn’t just good, but a transcendent talent and he’s not just humble, he’s wise beyond his years in regards to his elevated status.
He’s the son of a St. Louis legend and has been a four-year starter at one of the city’s top programs. Tatum has also been in the USA Basketball system since 2012 and his 27 PPG, 12 RPG, 5 APG and 2 BPG earned him MaxPreps Junior of the Year honors last year.
It’s nearly impossible to compare him to anyone that hasn’t been to at least a handful of all-star games, with the most accurate comparison being former MVP Kevin Durant.
At 6-foot-9 with range, handle, athleticism and an off the charts basketball IQ, Tatum is the total package.
Guiding the star through his high school seasons has fallen to Chaminade head coach Frank Bennett who is no stranger to elite players.
Bennett played with two-time NBA all-star and 2001 Mr. Show-Me Basketball David Lee at Chaminade. Bennett was also an assistant coach at Chaminade when 2011 Mr. Show-Me Basketball Brad Beal was torching opponents for 33 points a night, before starring at Florida and being the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Many have speculated where Tatum ranks amongst the all-time greats to ever come out of St. Louis and while only time will tell where his ceiling is, if it even exists, Bennett knows Tatum’s best basketball is in front of him.
“He’s got a shot to be the best,” said Bennett. “When you compare him with that group he has a shot at being the best for sure. If he keeps getting better and adjusting next year and hopefully beyond in the pros, he’s going to be an all-star. He’s going to be a perennial all-star.”
Tatum isn’t shy in stating his desire to be the best to ever do it and his work ethic reflects just why he is a top prospect in the Class of 2016. It isn’t rare to find Tatum in the gym by 6:15 each morning dissecting each facet of his game.
Bennett refers to it as his star performing surgery on his game, breaking down every nuance of his craft in order to be the best player he can be.
A love and respect for the game, its greats, and what it took for them to get there.
“It’s the passion I have for the game; I want to be the best,” said Tatum. “I don’t want to have any doubt about who is the best player in the country because I want to be the best. It takes a lot of hard work, day in and day out, but I’m up for the challenge.”
But, in order to cement his legacy, Tatum and Chaminade are in search of a state championship that has been more elusive than most would anticipate.
The Red Devils have just one in the trophy case and it came in 2009 when Beal and former Drury star Brandon Lockhart outdueled future lottery pick Alec Burks and Grandview. Bennett never won it all as a player alongside David Lee and Chaminade came up short in last year’s Final Four, losing 53-50 in the state semifinals to Park Hill South in a loss Tatum refers to as the toughest of his career.
While the defeat has fueled offseason workouts, Chaminade has not forgotten that game and it is unreasonable to assume that will happen any time soon, which is why the Red Devils came to the 32nd Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
Sitting at 15-3 with losses to No. 2 Oak Hill and No. 6 The Patrick School, Chaminade has put itself in position to not only compete for a state championship, but also a national title.
“We just want to do something that hasn’t been done,” said Tatum. “We want to go to a national championship, but first and foremost we want to get back to the state championship and redeem ourselves. Last year it was all our fault; we know exactly what we did wrong. We just want to get back to that point and prove we can do it.”
A schedule featuring several games against national powers has been the first step in redemption and Friday’s Tournament of Champions semifinal matchup with No. 7 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) gives Chaminade yet another litmus test and potentially sets up a rematch with Oak Hill.
Both Bennett and Tatum are excited about the immediate future and meeting Sierra Canyon and potentially Oak Hill Academy in front of a packed house at JQH Arena over the next two days and what it could mean for their season.
“Any time you play against top notch competition and make small mistakes they capitalize on it so it prepares you for a postseason run and getting better down the stretch,” said Bennett. “I’m looking forward to it. I love the challenge. They are very well coached and obviously one of the top teams in the country; they’re a very, very talented team. That’s exactly who we want to play.”
Tatum agreed, saying “I love competition and all the guys on our team do; playing against the best players and best teams in the country. It helps us prepare for late March when we try to make that run.”
No, Jayson Tatum isn’t your average high school basketball player and should he guide his team to championships in the coming months his legacy will only grow. But, he remains unphased or jaded by all the media attention.
The best part about being Jayson Tatum is almost as simple as the mechanics of his textbook jumper.
“Just being around my friends every day; those guys don’t treat me any differently,” said Tatum. “I love what I do; travel the country and play basketball.”
Chaminade and Sierra Canyon are set to tip off at 9:30 p.m. in the nightcap at JQH Arena.
