Tyreke Evans in 2008 at American Christian.
File photo by Jim Owens
I don’t know if there was any one great highlight of my high school career, but if I had to say there was something close to one single moment, it was in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
That gave gave me a chance to show what I can do against the best in the country. When I was named MVP, I suppose it really placed me in a great spot, along with all the rest of the great players who played in that game. But I wanted to show what I could do against the best, playing on national TV.
Some guys tend to sweat under that glare. I think I’ve been ready for this ever since I was a little kid. I have my brothers to thank for that. They guided me and made me the player that I am by getting me involved in every national AAU tournament they could. Once you get used to playing in front of big crowds, you can really ease into your game, like you’re playing against friends on a playground.
That’s what helped me the most I think about my high school career.
I went to American Christian, a small private school, outside of where I grew up in Chester. It’s kind of funny, because all of my brothers went to Chester High, which has a great winning tradition, and my brother Pooh actually led them to a state championship one year.
But none of them wanted me going to Chester. I remember one of my brothers saying “I don’t want Tyreke ever walking through a metal detector to go to school.” I mean they watched over me like a hawk. It wasn’t like I had one father, it was like I had five.
But if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am. I think it’s everything that shaped me to reach the McDonald’s game, like it was the end of the road of my high school career.
At American Christian, we traveled all over the country. That prepared me too for the higher level. If I had any advice for young kids coming up, it’s get out there and face the best. You won’t know how good you are until you go up against the best. It’s what I got at American Christian.
We didn’t have a chance to play for a state championship or anything, like I would have if I played at Chester, but we played in national tournaments against [private school] teams that were all good.
Then finally the McDonald’s game came. I think I had my whole family there in Milwaukee to watch me. I had a pretty good game [leading the East to a 107-102 victory with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists], and I think the real important thing for me is that I got to share that experience with my family.
They were all there, and if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be anywhere. I used to read these things in chatrooms and stuff when I was younger about my brothers this and my brothers that, making it sound like they were an entourage or something. But they’re my brothers. And if anyone thinks they’re an entourage, then I have the best entourage in the world.
I know they all have my back.
Joseph Santoliquito covers high schools for the Philadelphia Daily News and is a frequent contributor to MaxPreps.com. He can be contacted at JSantoliquito@yahoo.com.
