Michael Gilchrist‘s hailed as the top high school prospect in the class of 2011. The 6-foot-7 wing can slash to the hoop, get off the ground, create for others, hit the boards and is saluted for always playing hard when other guys in his situation might coast.
What drives a player like that? For Kentucky-committed prospect, his dad is a huge part - which is tough because his dad died 14 years ago.
This excellent article by Matthew Stanmyre of the Newark Star-Ledger balances that delicate subject matter with the requisite hoops anecdotes, avoiding trite clichés. Mostly, it’s about a kid who misses his dad. The kid just happens to be really, really good at basketball.
“Everywhere he went, I went,” Gilchrist wrote the paper. “He was a great father. I can’t explain how much I miss him. I just want to make him proud.”
Don’t worry, Michael. You’ll get your chance soon enough.
Mike Miller’s also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller, usually talkin’ hoops. Click here for more.