Derrick Rose’s NBA career was filled with “what-if’s” after the knee injury in 2012 permanently altered his ability.
His high school career began with a major what-if.
Bob Hambric, Simeon’s coach back then, didn’t allow freshmen on varsity. Rose played on the sophomore team as a freshman, along with a few talented classmates. That team won the sophomore city championship under coach Robert Smith, who would become Simeon’s varsity coach a year later.
Simeon’s varsity squad was loaded and had a talented point guard in Tim Green. Still, many observers believe the Wolverines may have won the state title in 2004 with Rose and Tim Flowers.
Simeon lost to Carbondale 65-46 in the Class AA state quarterfinals. Carbondale star Justin Dentmon, who had faced double and triple teams all season, didn’t get that kind of attention from the Wolverines and scored 26 points.
Would Rose have made a difference? We will never know. But it is the way Rose played basketball that made everyone wonder, especially after he orchestrated Simeon’s win against Oak Hill, Va., the top-ranked team in the country, in 2007. Years later, Rose told me he wanted to play with his friends on the sophomore team.
Rose won back-to-back city and state titles his junior and senior year. There were other talented high school players on the team, but none of his teammates went on to have significant college careers.
Rose had the physical gifts of a superhero. He was blazing fast with the ball, possessed unreal body control, and was the best leaper anyone had seen. Rose lost a few inches on his vertical when he put on muscle and weight in college and the NBA, which is common. But those that saw him in high school will never forget the dunks: they began beautiful and soaring but ended with swift violence at the rim.
Rose’s game in high school was completely team-first. That led many who only read the stories and saw the pedestrian stat lines to question all the hype surrounding him. But there was a reason Rose’s first high school game sold out a couple of hours before tip.
Rose elevated his entire team. His penetration created open shots for his buddy Randall Hampton on the perimeter. Interior defenders crashing in on Rose left Flowers free in the post.
But then, when everything was on the line, Rose would take over. His game-winner with 1.6 seconds left in overtime gave Simeon the Class AA state title in 2006. Everyone in the gym, everyone in Peoria, knew that Rose would take that shot. But no one on the floor could keep him from getting exactly where he wanted.
Rose’s high school career was about blinding potential, unselfishness, friendship and winning. He was never ranked high enough nationally but earned respect after a terrific performance at Madison Square Garden: 28 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds in a loss.
There was always controversy, even in high school. A Sun-Times investigation found that Rose had his grades changed at Simeon. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that Rose may have had his ACT taken by someone else.
Rose was never a talker. Simeon didn’t allow players to talk with the media back then. I first spoke to him on the record after the game at Madison Square Garden in his senior year. Nike made that happen.
I often wonder if getting through some of the talking to the media stumbles while still in high school would have benefited Rose. He was a basketball genius but never had a chance to get comfortable with all the attention that brings.
It doesn’t matter in the end. Rose did his speaking on the court. He played the way Chicago wanted, generous and fast, at a time when the ability to get to the rim, past, through, and over anyone, was the ultimate measure of talent. And Rose was the greatest we ever saw at that.
DERRICK ROSE’S SIGNATURE HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCES
The Debut — Dec. 4, 2004 vs. Thornwood
– As a sophomore, totaled 22 points, seven rebounds and five steals in his first varsity game.
The Injured Hero — Dec. 29, 2004 vs. Warren
– After spraining his right ankle, he limped to the free-throw line and made one of two free throws to give the Wolverines the victory. His teammates carried him off the floor.
The First City Title — Feb. 26, 2006 vs. Washington
– Delivered 25 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two of the most memorable dunks seen at the United Center since Michael Jordan retired.
The Shot — March 18, 2006 vs. Peoria Richwoods
– With 1.6 seconds to play in overtime and the state-championship game tied, he drove the lane, elevated and nailed a jumper as time expired, giving Simeon the state title.
The Garden — Jan. 14, 2007 vs. Rice (N.Y.)
– Put on a show with 26 points as Simeon became the first Illinois high school team to play at Madison Square Garden.
The Upset — Jan. 18, 2007 vs. Oak Hill
– Had 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to lead Simeon over undefeated Oak Hill, the top-ranked team in the nation in the first high school game ever televised by ESPN.
The War of Words — Feb. 17, 2007 vs. St. Joseph
– Battled St. Joseph star Evan Turner on and off the court. Both players scored 29 points. Turner: “I was better than Rose.” Rose: “He’s just saying that to get publicity.”
The Second City Title — Feb. 24, 2007 vs. Washington
– Finished with 14 points and nine assists as his alley-oop jam put the exclamation point on the Wolverines’ second consecutive city title.