What if I told you... - NBA 2K12 My Player; From High School to the NBA - _-King-_'s Dynasty

_-King-_'s Dynasty Blog

What if I told you... - NBA 2K12 My Player; From High School to the NBA

Posted on March 17, 2012 at 01:34 AM.

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This will be a series following the story of Wilky Izzet, from his final days as a senior in High School, through his college days (CH 2K8) all the way to (hopefully) making the NBA.

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The dream started the from the time Willard "Wilky" Izzet picked up the ball and was dunking on the Fisher Price hoop in the living room. There's nothing unique about it. It's a situation almost any boy growing up in America has envisioned. You're going to make it to the league, you're going to be the best who ever played. The dream continues playing out in our minds until we reach that moment where reality slaps you in the face and you come to grips with the fact that you're going to have to start looking at other career paths. For some of us that moment comes sooner than others.

No one ever told Wilky he wasn't going to make it. Growing up, he was always one of the tallest in his class. Not only that, but he could do something with that height. From grade school his gift was inevitable. The other boys envied him, but little did they know how badly Izzet envied them. Few from his neighborhood were particularly wealthy, but money and materials wasn't what he sought. He longed for a sense of belonging. To have just one loving parent like the ones who picked his friends up for school. Basketball was the only thing he had.

Born in Woodhaven, Michigan, Wilky and his mother moved to Burke, Virginia after his dad disappeared and his mother found a new job. His relationship with his mother was never strong. From the earliest his memory can go back, he recalls fierce scoldings from her, and the harsh treatment continued throughout his childhood. At 14, Wilky had had enough of her treatment. Had seen enough new men claiming to be his dad. Had heard enough of being told to put down the ball because it wasn't going to get him anywhere.

At 14, Wilky packed his bags and ran. He spent nights at the park, at the subway, wherever he could go to be safe. It wasn't hard to feel safer on the street than in his home. He got himself up and walked to school every morning. This lasted for a couple months, up until his freshman year was about to begin. That's when his living condition was discovered by Darnell Green, a junior, starter on the Varsity basketball team.

Green had grown up in a similar situation to Izzet, and was emancipated at 16. He had a job at a fast food restaurant to pay for a small place while still attending school. He couldn't let Wilky live on the street so he invited him to stay. The two developed a strong bond. Wilky got a job to help pay the rent, and Green provided the father figure that had never been in Wilky's life.

The relationship carried to the court. Wilky earned his minutes off the bench, and Darnell was one of the toughest SF's in the area. Next season, Wilky had grown to 6'6" and had worked his way up to be the starting PF as a sophomore. Wilky played well, but didn't have an outstanding role. It was Green's senior leadership that notched them the easy conference title. Junior year is when Wilky shined, averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. However, the team finished with a 17-8 record.

Senior year is when tragedy struck. Green and Izzet had continued living together. Green had been promoted to manager and decided college was out of the question. He was good at basketball, but not good enough for D1. He could've played for a smaller school, but opted to stay and watch out for Izzet. Just weeks before Wilky's senior season openor, Darnell Green was gunned down at the age of 20.

Wilky was devastated. His one great friend was now gone forever. He would never get over it, but the only way he could ease his mind was on the court.

Now averaging 20, 9, and 2, and leading the team to a 21-3 record, Wilky Izzet was getting serious looks from colleges. He wasn't one of the top #100 recruits in the nation, but he was a piece that many top colleges would love to add depth to their roster.

Coming in at 6'7" he would be expected to play the SF, and possibly some minutes at PF, different from the PF/C role he played in high school, and he'd be expected to improve his perimeter game.

Top 10 Colleges (no order):

George Mason
Villanova
Wake Forest
NC State
Norfolk State
Virginia Tech
Notre Dame
Georgia Tech
Iowa
Gonzaga

Play along by recruiting Wilky to your favorite college