In fathers’ famous footsteps
Sierra Canyon High features sons of NBA elite
CHATSWORTH, Calif. – Sierra Canyon, an uber-swanky private school, sits roughly 22 miles north of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but it might as well be clear across the country. It’s posh yet discrete, an ethereal wonderland in stark contrast to Tinseltown glam and glitz, presenting an ideal cover for the children of A-list celebs. Kevin Hart, Anthony Anderson, Will Smith, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kris Jenner, Jamie Foxx and Berry Gordy, among many other athletes and entertainers, enrolled their kids in the kindergarten through 12th-grade school, yet this year it’s the Trailblazers’ basketball team producing star power. The roster reads like a page in the NBA record book. Scotty Pippen Jr., son of Hall of Famer Scottie Sr.; Duane Washington Jr., son of former NBA player Duane Sr. and nephew of 18-year retired Lakers star Derek Fisher; Kenyon Martin Jr., son of 15-year retired NBA veteran Kenyon Martin Sr.; and Terren Frank, son of former NBA player Tellis Frank, all transferred in this season to lace ’em up for the Trailblazers. In all, six players joined, including Cassius Stanley, a five-star junior guard ranked No. 11 overall in the ESPN 60 and the son of longtime NBA and NFL sports agent Jerome Stanley. That gives new meaning to championship pedigree, with 11 NBA titles between the group’s fathers and uncles, the most of any roster in the country. “Eleven is a lot for one team,” said Terren Frank, a sophomore forward. “That’s a lot for two teams!” Now the challenge for Sierra Canyon’s first-year coach Andre Chevalier is to mold the elite group into a championship team while balancing the rigors of an elite academic school. “Clearly, they’re from families that have had great success in their pro careers,” Chevalier said. “Here, our guys are pushed on the court, but they’re competing in the classroom too. That’s one of the things that was attractive to the guys and their parents.” Especially Kenyon Sr., who famously yanked Kenyon Jr. out of another school during his freshman year because he was falling short academically. “That taught me a valuable lesson, that books come before everything,” said Kenyon, a junior forward. “I appreciate a school like Sierra Canyon a lot more now.” Plus, what other school can say Stevie Wonder performed a three-hour benefit concert with Jamie Foxx and Howie Mandel serving as emcees under a tent for 500 people on the then-undeveloped land to raise money to start the school? Sierra Canyon has become a national sports power almost overnight. Since the high school opened in 2005, the Trailblazers have won nine state titles in five sports, including a basketball title in 2015. Duke freshman phenom Marvin Bagley III led Sierra Canyon to a 27-3 record last season and would be a senior had he not headed to college a year early. “We want to be the Duke of high schools,” head of school Jim Skrumbis said. “The goal was to marry high-level academics and high-level athletics.” Sierra Canyon’s veteran players are convinced the addition of the pros’ kids make the game easier. “They just see things that everyone else can’t see, whether it’s a pass or anticipating a play they just seem to know,” senior guard William Washington said. The team hasn’t experienced the infamous chemistry curve that most newly assembled teams struggle through. Sierra Canyon is 5-1 with a tournament championship. “It’s like we’ve played together for years,” Stanley said. “One of the best parts is having those former legends in the stands.” The former pros are low-key during games, all but Kenyon Martin Sr., who is almost as passionate a basketball dad as he was a player. In the Trailblazers’ 80-78 overtime loss to No. 22 Shadow Mountain (Phoenix) in the American Family Insurance Hoophall West, the only former pro more animated than Kenyon Sr. was Shadow Mountain coach Mike Bibby, who played 14 years in the NBA. “My dad gets going sometimes,” Kenyon Jr. said. “That’s just who he is. He wants us all to play at our best.” There’s a contrast in styles during the inevitable postgame car ride game breakdown. Kenyon Jr. said his dad focuses on what he did well. Duane Washington Jr. said his dad and uncle offer a balance of pros and cons, the same with the Franks. Scotty Pippen Jr. said his dad “is my biggest critic.” “He nitpicks everything, but I know he’s just trying to motivate me. I listen because I know he knows a lot better than me,” said Scotty Jr., a junior guard. Safe bet for a man who can’t fit all of his NBA title rings on one hand. That’s why Chevalier welcomes the occasional chime-in, although he’s quick to point out the former pros have been “pretty hands-off.” The understated Chevalier has 21 years of head coaching experience and a strong playing background, graduating from Cal State-Northridge in 1994 while holding records for scoring, steals, assists and free throws. “Luckily, the four guys I’m dealing with are good people and they get that the high school game is a lot different from the NBA,” Chevalier said. “It’s been great. They offer a perspective for the players that you can’t imagine.” That’s rewarding for Duane Washington Jr., an Ohio State-bound senior who transferred from Grand Rapids (Mich.) Christian to be close to Fisher. Merely listening to pointers after practices and games elevates his game. “These guys know everything we want to know,” Washington said. “We’d be crazy not to soak up. They bring a lot of attention at games, but we’re used to that.” The star power won’t be a problem for the home crowd either. Daniel Messinger, a senior forward, has attended Sierra Canyon since kindergarten, giving him a front-row seat for all the red-carpet clientele who have walked the halls. A couple of former NBA legends with rings? A mere Sierra Canyon Monday. “When I found out Scottie Pippen was at practice, it’s like, ‘Oh, cool,’ ” Messinger said. “And I’m a big fan. Anywhere else in the country that would shut the school down. Here, not so much. We can just focus on winning.” Watch the documentary video series “Everything to Gain” on the Sierra Canyon boys basketball season at USATODAYHSS.com