Once upon a time they were just kids.
They weren't yet stooping to get through doorways or hitting jumpers from everywhere. They weren't yet identified as future millionaires.
But they already possessed the type of talent and desire that would allow them eventually to realize their dreams.
As part of its NBA Draft coverage, Rivals.com has ventured to find the stories behind the stories. We have talked to the high school coaches of potential draft picks to ask where these players came from and what separated them from the rest of the crop.
Don't be surprised if you find some common traits in each of these prospects.
D.J. WHITE, F, INDIANA
High school: Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Hillcrest • Coach: Thad Fitzpatrick
When is the first time you remember thinking this guy had the potential to play professionally someday?: "When he was in the eighth grade. He was long and so aggressive as an eighth-grader. You could tell there was a good chance that he had something inside of him. He scored pretty well as an eighth-grader. It really looked like he had a chance if he continued to progress. He was about 6-4 as an eighth-grader. We moved him up to the ninth-grade team. We would have moved him up to varsity, but the rules in the state didn't allow you to move him up from eighth grade to varsity. Since then the rule has changed. He would have played on varsity as an eighth-grader if the rules had allowed it."
What game sticks out the most in your memory when you look back on his high school career?: "That's a tough question because he had a bunch of really, really good games. All our games when I coached were really halfcourt games, so he never had great numbers in terms of points, rebounds and blocked shots. But he was always consistent with double-figures in points and rebounds."
"There was a kid, Walter Sharpe, who was at UAB this year. The first time they played (against each other), Walter got the best of him in their place. I challenged (White), and he took his game to another level the next time we played (Sharpe's team)."
How often do you keep in touch with him?: "I talk to D.J. probably about four times a week. He knows (the NBA) is a business and he's got to continue to work. He still thinks he has a lot to prove. If you just look at a lot of mock drafts, some people have him late in the first round and some people have him in the second round. I think his stock will rise in individual workouts."
When do you think he will get drafted?: "As he starts to do his individual workouts for teams, I think he will rise in the draft much better than he's projected right now. I think he'll go anywhere from 17th to the end of the first round."
