Without her, I wouldn't have been as successful as I have been this year.". He did not sleep overnight. One of Sykes signature moments came when he scored five points a dagger 3 and layup on back-to-back plays in overtime of a dramatic 121-117 upset win against Stephen Curry and the Warriors at Chase Center on Jan. 20. After being cut, Sykes could've left Indianapolis for good and focused . NBA News. "I wouldn't say that it was planned but I definitely wouldn't say it was an accident," Gathers said of Bria's pregnancy, the climax of which included Rico taking four trips in one day to a Danny & Clyde's po'boy joint while Bria was in labor. Basketballer Keifer Sykes is Marshall High' star point guard, Chi-Town follows his ambitions to make it in the NBA while loss, injury, and violence back home in Chicago punctuate his journey. It's very important to Keifer that KJ does not forget -- or rather, can easily remember -- who Keifer's father was. While Sykes soaked in the action, more youngsters filed into the gym and for nearly all of them Sykes had a greeting, Whats up, killa? he asked one kid. [22] The film follows Sykes' path from high school to his brush with the NBA. Sykes said he also shared a moment over the phone Thursday night with fellow Chicago native and former high school and collegeteammate Alfonzo McKinnie, who now playsfor the Bulls. So all I wanted to do is take care of her. "So Im very fortunate to have that opportunity. Keifer Sykes weighs 180 lbs (81 kg). Dawson's first two years at Michigan State consisted of few visits with My'Shawn during the season. You could call this, The Keifer Effect, McKinnie said. After a game at Indiana in 2012, Dawson asked coach Tom Izzo if he could ride with his family from Bloomington to Indianapolis to escape and spend one night with his son. My foundation is about mass incarcerationand gun violence. In fact, Sykes is technically on a two-year deal, but the second year of his contract is non-guaranteed. Dawson grew up with a mother who loved him dearly and worked at a local hospital -- the same one My'Shawn was born at -- but there was a wall of fear he couldn't mount. Sykes, a Chicago native who starred at Marshall High School, was twice named the Horizon LeaguePlayer of the Year at Wisconsin-Green Bay but went undrafted in 2015. He was closer to him than any of his other siblings. Just being able to see him now, its been crazy. This summer, there was a murder near the house where Keifer Jr. lives with. "People don't even know the half of it," Sykes said. Keifer says his first pro basketball check will go toward buying and engraving a tombstone for his father. The mother, who Kedren has known since middle school, lives in Johnson's hometown of Lewisburg, Tennessee. [28], On August 5, 2021, Sykes signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Don't do what I did.'". Dayton kicked two players off its roster earlier this season after a dorm-room theft forced Archie Miller's hand. And whatever makes the mother happy, it's all about making the child happy. Sykes has seen his role grow over the years, shouldering more and more of the offensive workload for Green Bay, while rounding himself into a dynamic offensive option. What he didn't know was that he wouldn't be a part of it. Weve actually talked about (that game) once or twice, and I brought it up just to see if he remembered it, Brogdon said. I couldnt tell you that he was going to make a million-dollar shot or make it to the NBA, but from the time he was 13-years-old and getting ready to come to high school, I knew that boy was special., I asked #Suns star Devin Booker about his relationship with #Pacers rookie Keifer Sykes. KJ doesn't know just yet how his grandfather died -- or even what death is, or that people disappear from the world in abrupt and unfair ways. She deserves this more than anybody. Keifer said that conversation will probably come in the next year or so. There was yelling on one end of the line and a 15-year-old stomach swirling to mush on the other. Breakups, forced relationships, long-distance relationships, fractures between families, money -- these are stresses that, comparatively, make basketball seem so simple. Inconvenient, opportunistic, stressful, hopeful, problematic, irritating, invigorating, a blessing all at once. He remembers hopping into a car after getting that call, riding with the aunt of My'Shawn's mother, a 10-minute drive to Methodist Hospital. First and always, Sykes prides himself on being an awesome dad. I just needed to be myself, so I went into the bathroom, but I couldnt really get back up, Sykes said. [29] He was waived at the end of training camp. Keifer Sykes is an American athlete and professional basketball player. Afterward, he takes dozens of pictures and shakes the hands of nearly 200 people, plenty of whom he does not know. Like Buchanan, and others currently playing college hoops, BYU's Josh Sharp also became a father last fall. "When I see him play against his favorite people, seeing him playing against Chris Paul and he went to Chris Pauls camp, its like its (full) circle.. Rotowire Apr 6, 2022. WATCH: Dog makes mess at Louisville halftime show, Updates: Four conference tournaments in action Tuesday, Bracketology: Boise State boosts its standing, Alabama vs. Auburn odds, picks, prediction, bets, Top 25 And 1: Bill Self continues to cement legacy, Court Report: Strange resumes, best turnarounds, Nate Oats says Bama players explained pat-down, March Madness starts with game-winner at buzzer, AP Top 25: Marquette moves up; UK back in rankings, Legendary former Virginia coach Terry Holland dies. "It's the first time I had to do real school work. So many missed calls from his girlfriend. Gathers' teammate, Al Freeman? I remember looking up in the clouds like, My dad is in heaven already? Ill never forget that I was holding myself together until we got to the corner and turned down my block, thats when I was just like, Damn and broke down like crazy. The two-time Horizon League Player of the Year scores a career-best 36 against UIC, helping the Phoenix win 72-67. Because even as a mom you dont expect your children to praise you like that. Keifer Sykes #28 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball while being guarded by Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Jan. 14, 2022, in Indianapolis. His performance warranted praise from Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who has repeatedly noted how remarkable Sykes career has been. Earlier that day, Sykes was at Marshall High School in Chicago, his alma mater, about a 25-minute drive from Proviso East, giving away coats and hope. As apro-basketball player, Sykes weighs around 175 pounds and stands at theheightof 5 feet 11 inches. I forgot to even call my mom. One team has a father who's a leading scorer with a child who attends every home game but did not want to bring extra attention to the player or the program. See, the basketball part, thats easy. Its not even that I did it (on my own). "I just stuck with the plan and for it to become real, man, it's just a testament to believing in yourself. And like Sykes, when Dawson found out he was going to be a father, he had zero interest in letting his mother know right away what he'd gotten himself into. Sykes had nearly 100 ticket requests for this game, and he will not disappoint the familiars. Sykes is featured in the 2018 documentary film Chi-Town, produced and directed by Nick Budabin. Stephen A.: Lakers won't advance beyond play-in without LeBron. The little guy is now doing better and just turned three months old. He kept it from her as long as possible; the "entire school" knew about it, but she didn't. The Pacers waived third-string point guard Brad Wanamaker after his poor playand picked up Sykes mainly as an insurance guard since starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon was sidelined with a sore right Achilles and backup point guard T.J. McConnell is out due to right wrist surgery. I see my daughter come out to the world.". Buchanan's son, Terry Buchanan III, was born in November with a life-threatening condition. Keifer Sykes was on campus after his freshman season at Wisconsin-Green Bay, taking summer classes and going through workouts, when his phone rang around 7:30 a.m. His older brother, Jarvis Tucker, was on the other end. He admits now it was a lot to go through. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Moreover, last year on her 5th birthday, Sykes took it to his Instagram@ksykeyb28. Despite all of those who tried to put a ceiling on his career as hetraveledthe world,there was always at least one person back home reminding Sykes to shoot for the stars: his mom, Lisa. I was the first person to see him, which was pretty cool.". Sykes mother called Keifer to tell him what happened, and when she couldnt reach him, she called his college coach Brian Wardle. I didn't have goals to go further. Neither player entered the game, and McKinnie has since been waived, but that night McKinnie was just proud to exchange matching No. Dozens of programs were contacted for this story and asked if they had a player on their roster who was a father or a father-to-be. The sport is now, has long been, and will continue to be populated by men who are fathers well before they are emotionally and financially ready for the task. Sharp -- who's completed his Mormon mission obligations and is a 24-year-old senior on a team that in recent years has seen half its roster filled with married men -- saw little Jaycee Sharp come into the world 30 minutes after midnight on Oct. 1, 2014. Most did. And for him to do that, it was just so overwhelming. INDIANAPOLIS Keifer Sykes knew the Pacers' season was ending. I was really on my own and traveling in Chicago for an hour each way each day. 2023 www.indystar.com. Every situation is different. You can practically hear the smile through the phone as Gathers, who was wearing scrubs that didn't fit his 6-8, 275-pound frame, tells the story. "Loved James Sykes. He graduates in two months. I was charging it. Over Indianas past two games,Sykes is averaging 20.0points, 5.5assists and 3.5rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the field, 50.0% on 3-pointers and 85.7% at the free-throw line. Back home in Chicago, one of Sykes former high school coaches, Shawn Shake Harrington, watched it all unfold in tears. It's a seven-hour drive round trip from Green Bay to Chicago. The coaching staff awoke to find out the player was more than a thousand miles away and quit the team without telling anyone. Joniah Jr. lives 260 miles away, in Grenada, Mississippi, while his dad is getting his sea legs under him as a freshman in Ruston, Louisiana. Sykes confirmed that another documentary about his life is on the way, and itll include another milestone from his first NBA season: A jersey swap with his former high school and college teammate, Alfonzo McKinnie (a distant cousin of the aforementioned Rashad McKinnie). Stephen A. Smith discusses why the Lakers are a better . One night, when a super . Where was Keifer Sykes born? Wardle, who is now the head coach at Bradley, called James Sykes a tremendous man, the type who, alongside Lisa Sykes, wanted his son to be held to the highest standard in all areas. Luckily for Wardle, he said he never had to spend too much energy in those departments because even though Sykes was just 17 when he made his college debut making him one of the youngest players in the country he was prepared beyond his years. She took in five kids, taking care of my kids when I told her I wanted to play college basketball. All coaches who were asked estimated that more than half the teams in Division I men's basketball currently have at least one player who is father, or a father-to-be, on their roster. He dapped the boy up and encouraged him to dream big, which is fitting for Sykes, a 28-year-old NBA rookie. I was afraid to tell my mom.". At the time I didnt know that, but he was affirming my greatness. 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