Irving endured the unfiltered opinions of others and in the process, fortified his resolve. When asked the stereotypical essay questions, "What do you want to be when you grow up? What is your plan?" by educators, Irving emphatically scribbled the only thing that seemed to set his soul ablaze: Make it to the NFL. Over and over, Irving was persuaded to change his answer, but he pursued his dream and continued writing the same response, in ink. In those early-defining moments, his commitment was forged. Plan B did not exist.
Beginning at the pee wee level, Irving closely monitored Jeff's training regimen for high school football and the little X's and O's junkie pioneered his own strict routine at the age of five. Without prompting, Irving got up at sunrise and ran up and down 'The Big Apple,' a giant hill near their house, in preparation for his own football scrimmages. With every pace on the hill, as breathing became labored and muscles throbbed, Irving powered forward and envisioned donning his own NFL threads. Every day after school, Irving went to practice two hours early to watch the older kids play and studied every nuance. After each session, Irving stayed after to watch his relatives flash on the grass, including his brother, Jordan Raybon. Irving observed every play call unfold with the exuberance of a first-time spectator.
"That hill was not easy to run up and down and for someone not to force you or tell you to go do it, that is something different," said Jeff. "I never had to beg him to go to practice. He was already there hours before at pee wee and all levels. He wants to do it all and control the game. He never wanted to come off the field and he would play defense if he had to. In high school, he played nose tackle. That is hard to do but he did it. Who plays nose tackle in varsity football in high school at that size? Who does that and gets sacks and beats guys off the ball? Who does that? He did. You have to really be built different to do that. You had to drag him off the field. He was like that then, and it is the same now."
Irving's tunnel vision catapulted him forward. After his freshman year at Morgan Park, Irving transferred to Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills. That year, he won the starting running back job and averaged 156.5 rushing yards per game, spurring Hillcrest to a 12-1 record and a 2018 conference title. Known for his ability to make defenders miss at the point of contact, Irving dazzled. He ran for 3,264 yards during his three-year career at Hillcrest and was named first-team all-state and the South Suburban Conference Player of the Year after posting 1,733 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior, along with 21 receptions for 405 yards and four touchdowns.
Irving was also a standout player on the hardwood, controlling the pace of the game with ball distribution. He lettered in basketball at Hillcrest as the team's starting point guard and led the team in scoring as a junior, guiding the Hawks to first place in the conference. In addition to his football accolades, Irving earned Conference Player of the Year honors in basketball as a junior. On the court, he showed the same competitive disposition as he did on the grass.
In a 2020 showdown against Homewood-Flossmoor, Irving spurred the club to victory at the buzzer. Down by one with the clock winding down, Irving drove to the basket like a man possessed. He leapt through the air for a layup off the glass as time expired to give the Hawks a 56-55 win. The truly defining moment came just before the game-sealing shot. With 10 seconds remaining, Irving missed a three-pointer. For most, that play would have shattered confidence, but not for the five-foot-10, multi-faceted star. Instead, that moment revealed his mental fortitude. Homewood-Flossmoor missed a one-on-one and Irving capitalized, succeeding in the pressure-packed moment. The bouts of adversity that Irving had grown accustomed to, both at home and in athletic endeavors, not only fueled him but served as empowerment.
Although Hillcrest did not receive the notoriety of other high school football powerhouses in the country, which garner increased visibility for players and a larger presence with recruiters, Irving made his mark underneath the floodlights on Friday nights. His electrifying play powered the Hawks' quest for the 2019 conference title, a game shy of the state finals. Irving shook defenders out of their cleats with his cutting skills and shifty feet. His fables on the field in Country Club Hills were legendary and college programs took notice.