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June 26, 2024. NBA Draft Evening. We’re in NYC, the place else? AJ Storr is on a Zoom from… Athens, Greece!?! We’ll clarify all that in a second. Extra importantly, he is aware of the which means of tonight as a prelude to his future.
“Actually one yr from tonight, is it loopy to assume you can be up on the stage…” we are saying earlier than Storr interjects excitedly, “…in a swimsuit and tie!”
Ten factors for honesty with this one. Storr, now a rising junior for the world-famous Kansas Jayhawks and a projected 2025 NBA Draft decide, shouldn’t be dancing round a subject many school gamers with eligibility remaining play sizzling potato with. “Sure,” Storr confirms, “I’m planning to be within the draft subsequent yr.”
Now that we’ve that very logical enterprise resolution lined, let’s backtrack and share one of the crucial distinctive and totally trendy basketball journeys of any high-profile participant on this planet.
We’ll begin with the world enterprise. Storr is in Greece in the meanwhile as a result of the Bahamian nationwide group, of which he not too long ago made the roster (pending some lingering paperwork), is taking part in a few exhibition video games earlier than an Olympic qualifying event in Spain that may decide if the small island nation with the more and more outsized basketball expertise advances to Paris.
The 6-7 Storr, a smooth-shooting, scoring guard tied to The Bahamas as a result of his father was born there, is happy to be in Greece. Partly for the expertise of what he calls his “world tour,” however much more so for the possibility to play with people who’ve gotten the place he needs to go. Bahamas basketball has quietly constructed an explosive roster that includes present NBA gamers Deandre Ayton, Eric Gordon, Buddy Hield, Kai Jones and Isaiah Mobley, in addition to different proficient school and professional gamers. The squad is coached by longtime Golden State Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco.
“It’s a actually nice expertise to be on the market with all these professionals,” Storr says, a day after scoring 15 factors (on 7-9 capturing) in a 93-80 loss to Montenegro. “I performed a few video games with them final summer time after which we had coaching camp in Houston earlier this month, and now I’m taking part in actual video games with them. It’s nice to be round all this expertise.”
At any time when The Bahamas’ run ends, the world is on discover that it’s a program to be careful for sooner or later, after which Storr can have extra time to spend in his newest “house”—Lawrence, KS. And what a house it’s. Maybe essentially the most storied program in all of school basketball—“I hadn’t recognized that James Naismith based this system right here. That’s who based basketball!” Storr exclaims—and a program with usually excessive expectations for the ’24-25 season. As ESPN’s Jeff Borzello put it in his latest “Approach-Too-Early High 25,” the Jayhawks are No. 1 after Invoice Self responded to a disappointing ’23-24 “with essentially the most loaded roster within the nation. He went into the portal and landed AJ Storr (Wisconsin), Zeke Mayo (South Dakota State) and Rylan Griffen (Alabama); then, All-American large man Hunter Dickinson opted to return for an additional yr.”
It says right here that Storr, with a capturing contact that the Jayhawks sorely missed final season, often is the largest piece of the puzzle. As for all of the locations he’s been earlier than Kansas, that unfolds like a little bit of a puzzle in its personal approach.
This younger man is within the candy spot for a correct SLAM profile as a result of he’s “large” sufficient—due to taking part in one yr in New York Metropolis and one other yr going viral because the athletic main scorer for B1G energy Wisconsin—to be heard of however with out his full story being recognized as a result of he was not an excellent high-profile recruit. We’ll inform you the story now so that you’ll be within the know when he blows up much more at Kansas after which flies into the NBA in 12 months.
Storr grew up in Rockford, IL, a metropolis of practically 150,000 about 90 minutes west of Chicago. It’s most related in trendy hoops as the house of present Houston Rocket Fred VanVleet. AJ got here up alongside one older sister, Ambranette, who scored greater than 2,900 factors in her highschool profession earlier than taking part in in school, and 5 youthful brothers, raised primarily by his mom, Annette Brandy—a former Chicago highschool star who performed in school as properly—and his stepfather.
AJ attended Rockford Lutheran as a highschool freshman, exhibiting promise as a hooper who was nonetheless simply 6-1. After that, a trip began that has but to finish. The household moved to the South Chicago suburb of Kankakee when his mother, a instructor, received a greater job provide, and AJ spent his sophomore and most of his junior yr at Kankakee Excessive. Then Covid hit. As Brandy explains, it was time to make some selections. “The entire state of Illinois shut down. He had some affords—Chicago State, IUPUI—however he nonetheless hadn’t gotten main appears. We knew he was a Energy 5 child, he simply hadn’t been seen,” she says. “His dad lived in Vegas, and AJ was hesitant about it, however I satisfied him to go. Construct a relationship along with your dad and put your self on the market with basketball.”
It labored. Storr began taking part in for Vegas Elite and Bishop Gorman Excessive Faculty and his publicity—and rating—skyrocketed. He was set to play his senior season for Bishop Gorman after which…Clark County, NV (which incorporates Las Vegas) introduced there can be no winter sports activities because of Covid. “After Vegas shut down, he transferred to AZ Compass they usually made all of it the way in which to the GEICO Nationals,” his mother says. “By then he had gotten quite a lot of affords, however I assumed he wanted to mature a bit.”
So it was off to famend IMG Academy in Florida for a post-grad yr that went nice. In the long run, AJ had attended 5 excessive faculties in 5 years, albeit for causes that have been exterior his management. When the time got here to make his official school alternative, Storr enrolled at St. John’s, firmly hitting the (admittedly biased) radar of the #SLAMfam’s school followers by placing collectively a Massive East All-Freshman marketing campaign highlighted by 40 % capturing from three-point vary, 9 ppg and an thrilling model of play. Alas, the Johnnies fired Mike Anderson and Storr determined to switch again to the Midwest, placing collectively an All-B1G Second Group season (17 ppg, 4 rpg, 1 apg) in Madison and establishing himself as a future professional. Storr flirted with getting into this yr’s draft earlier than as a substitute deciding to switch another time. To the very best group within the county.
“Enjoying for all of the completely different groups has actually helped my IQ. I’ve discovered completely different performs, completely different coaches, completely different cultures,” Storr says, explaining the advantages of his journey. “Off the courtroom, each faculty has welcomed me and made it like a household. I’ve received buddies from each faculty.”
In Storr’s thoughts, the ascension from unknown excessive schooler to possible first-round NBA decide shouldn’t be as a result of he not too long ago received good on the sport. For higher or worse, publicity nonetheless issues. “I’ve been fairly good at basketball my entire life, however I needed to get round the fitting platform and coaches and make the most of the alternatives,” he says. “St John’s is in an amazing convention. Then I went to the Massive Ten and the Badgers, who’ve made Ultimate 4 runs and are recognized worldwide. Being there helped me lots. Now I’m wanting ahead to taking my sport to a different stage at Kansas.”
Storr describes himself as very coachable and has discovered bits and items from all of the coaches he’s performed for, however none of them have been round him constantly sufficient to have developed a deep mentorship. For each day help as he pursues his dream, Storr factors to the individuals who have been across the longest. “I’ve received a group with my mother, my sister, my administration,” he says. “It takes a group to perform your dream. You may be essentially the most proficient participant, however for those who don’t have the fitting folks round you, you’re not going to make it.”
For her half, Mother couldn’t be prouder. “I’m so excited for him,” says Brandy, who not too long ago received a brand new job—and acquired a home—again in Rockford. “He has put in a lot work to get right here.”
And to reiterate, Storr himself views his assorted experiences as a optimistic. “My sport interprets to quite a lot of completely different locations,” he says. “I understand how to purchase right into a program. I respect all my coaches. I’m an amazing teammate. When you step on that courtroom or within the weight room, you turn out to be brothers. The place I’m making an attempt to go, you gotta be ready. Within the NBA, guys get traded on a regular basis. So this may very well be a bonus.”
Portraits through Missy Minear Kansas Athletics.
