**CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily)** — Before becoming an NBA Champion, All-Star, and top 15 draft pick, Jalen Williams was a 14-year-old trying to earn a spot on the Perry High School basketball team.
“When you are that young it just does not even seem feasible, you don’t even know if that will ever happen it’s just a dream,” Williams said.
On Tuesday, Williams’ No. 11 was unveiled in front of a sold-out crowd. He is the first Perry High School basketball player to ever have his number retired.
He was joined by his Thunder teammates and other members of the organization, but said having his family there really brought back memories.
“My mom was going to school, and med school is hard and my dad was having to carry the load and work and bring me to practice,” Williams said. “We had a lot of Little Caesars, so it’s just stuff like that I remember.”
The accolades speak for themselves, but many times throughout his career, it seemed impossible. His message for the younger generation is: Don’t listen to the outside noise.
“Run you own race, rankings don’t matter and just looking at the board reminded me just how low I was ranked in high school, and how I was overlooked throughout the whole thing,” Williams said. “As long as you enjoy what you are doing and work hard at what you are doing you can be successful.”
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