AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFavors has upward trajectory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At 6 feet 7-1/2, with arms as long as skis and footwork like a tap dancer, Derrick Favors received many an underhanded offer to transfer from South Atlanta. He refused, which says a lot about the character of this 15-year-old basketball meteor.
Instead of even considering the overtures, Favors held firm to his convictions.
“I wanted to stay in my community,” he said. “And with my friends.”
It’s OK to applaud such devotion.
While you’re doing that, cheer his immense talent and potential, too. In his first game after missing two because of an elbow infection, Favors did not have to show too much in the Hornets’ pedestrian 78-69 victory at Towers on Tuesday night.
But he displayed enough to confirm why he is considered among the top two or three sophomores in the nation.
He scored on deft moves in the post over much smaller opponents and showed keen timing in rejecting a handful of shots. Truthfully, it was not an inspired effort, but it was enough to help South Atlanta raise its record to 17-4.
Favors is favored to be the AJC player of year come 2009. In between now and then, he’s going to dazzle with inside maneuvers, sweet 15-foot jump shots and power dunks.
Ask him if he patterns his game after the NBA’s Tim Duncan, whose footwork is at the heart of his low-post dominance, Favors offered a polite, “No. Amare Stoudemire.”
Fair enough. But, truth be told, Favors — who is being recruited by Georgia Tech, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Clemson, et al. — has to get stronger and become more aggressive to ascend to Stoudemire’s level, which surely he has the potential to do.
Michael Reddick is perhaps the only coach who can look Favors eye-to-eye, and he would put his player up man-for-man against anyone around. “Senior, junior, whatever,” Reddick said. “He’s just a great kid with great character. A good student and a great player. He’s been working out with me since the eighth grade, so I’ve seen the development.”
The development of South’s program could have been stunted this year, but Reddick and his staff have held it together. Their school is being renovated, so the team has been displaced all the way to Perry Boulevard in northwest Atlanta — 20 miles from home.
They are forced to catch MARTA for an hour-plus journey home after practice. “It’s not easy,” Favors said, “but we do it.”
Reddick has found the inconvenience to be a vehicle for his team uniting. “Because they catch the bus home so late together, they have bonded so closely,” he said. “We’d rather it be a normal situation, but I think it will help us in the long run.”
As long as Favors is healthy, it stands to reason South Atlanta will make a long run in the state tournament. Reddick, who lost four players with the move away from the original school, can rely on guard Deron Durham, who increased his scoring average by 11 points from last year to 14.
There’s also Michael Nance, the point guard and floor leader, Robert Jones, who averages nine rebounds after barely playing on JV last year, and Bernard Kelly, a 6-3 “pure athlete” whose energy ignites the team.
“It’s not just me; we have a good team,” Favors said. “I think we can — as long was we stay focused. That’s why I’m here. To win it for my community.”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Comments
By KSShake
January 31, 2007 01:09 PM | Link to this
I truly wish Derrick the best and I admire his loyalty to his community, school, and teammates. I just hope he’s getting guidance to make the best decisions for HIM. This is an extremely touchy topic in the South Atlanta community. Because all Derrick hears is “Stay here” , “Do it for your comunity” , ect. ect. But, you have to sincerely ask yourself, is it in HIS best interest to stay.
I think of Caleb King leaving the Columbia, SW Dekalb area to go to Parkview, and then leave there for GAC. If there was such a vested interst in him improving his academic standing, why isn’t he already qualified. Or did Parkview and GAC use him for football.
James “J.J.” Hickson came from the same “community” as Derrick,left Carver for SACA, and left there for Wheeler. Supposedly, for academic reasons. Even though I don’t like Wheeler, I want J.J. to do well. And if it’s a choice between transferring to Wheeler or Norcross or staying at South Atlanta, I’d just rather he stay at South Atlanta.
This young man has shown loyalty to a school and community that has failed athletes in the past (i.e. Vincent Banks). Now the ball is in South Atlanta and Coach Reddick”s court to ensure this young man is prepared academically, and can make a smooth social transition to college life and life out of “Zone 3”. A lot of freinds want him around so they can latch on to him and be his future entourage. Derrick Favors, beware of of your freinds now and choose them selectively, (remember what happened to Jamal Lewis a couple of years ago because of “high school freinds”).
Sad to say, it’s gonna be an uphill climb. Sure all of these schools are courtin’ him now. Just be sure SAHS is preparing you to do college work when you get on a college campus ( not via the JUCO route or as a “partial qualifier”). Problem is you won’t know it’s not until it’s too late. But, in all honsety, I’ve seen South Atlanta play, they’re pretty good, but their NOT going to when a state championship. And if Oak Hill comes calling, ask Josh Smith what was the best decision for him, and he went to McEachern, Dwight Howard, Jarvis Hayes. I’m saying, when the high school fanfare is gone. will you be prepared for what’s next? I hate to say this but, apparently the kid’s got better character than Banks. And I liked Vince, but the decisions he’s made post SAHS speak for themself.
By Tre
February 1, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
Yea, I like the fact that he wants to stay in his community. I like the fact that South Atlanta continues its winning tradition with homegrown talent and not “recruiting.” But I recall that Javaris Crittenton, now Georgia Tech’s starting pg also lived in South Atlanta’s district and was just like Favors. He wanted to play with his friends but was advised that even though SAHS has great teams…..where are their players going after graduation(Run N’ Shoot). Therefore he ended up at SACA. I hope SAHS can get it together over there and start better preparing those kids for the future. I would love to see there program succeed because just like Vincent Banks was, this kid is special!!! SAHS please dont send another NBA player to Run N’ Shoot because you didn’t academically prepare him for college!!!
By Tre
February 1, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
Yea, I like the fact that he wants to stay in his community. I like the fact that South Atlanta continues its winning tradition with homegrown talent and not “recruiting.” But I recall that Javaris Crittenton, now Georgia Tech’s starting pg also lived in South Atlanta’s district and was just like Favors. He wanted to play with his friends but was advised that even though SAHS has great teams…..where are their players going after graduation(Run N’ Shoot). Therefore he ended up at SACA. I hope SAHS can get it together over there and start better preparing those kids for the future. I would love to see there program succeed because just like Vincent Banks was, this kid is special!!! SAHS please dont send another NBA player to Run N’ Shoot because you didn’t academically prepare him for college!!!
By Tre
February 1, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
Yea, I like the fact that he wants to stay in his community. I like the fact that South Atlanta continues its winning tradition with homegrown talent and not “recruiting.” But I recalled that Javaris Crittenton, now Georgia Tech’s starting pg also lived in South Atlanta’s district and was just like Favors. He wanted to play with his friends but was advised that even though SAHS has great teams…..where are their players going after graduation(Run N’ Shoot). Therefore he ended up at SACA. I hope SAHS can get it together over there and start better preparing those kids for the future. I would love to see there program succeed because just like Vincent Banks was, this kid is special!!! SAHS please dont send another NBA player to Run N’ Shoot because you didn’t academically prepare him!!!
By Tre
February 2, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this
Yea, I like the fact that he wants to stay in his community. I like the fact that South Atlanta continues its winning tradition with homegrown talent and not “recruiting.” But I recalled that Javaris Crittenton, now Georgia Tech’s starting pg also lived in South Atlanta’s district and was just like Favors. He wanted to play with his friends but was advised that even though SAHS has great teams…..where are their players going after graduation(Run N’ Shoot). Therefore he ended up at SACA. I hope SAHS can get it together over there and start better preparing those kids for the future. I would love to see there program succeed because just like Vincent Banks was, this kid is special!!! SAHS please dont send another NBA player to Run N’ Shoot because you didn’t academically prepare him!!!