There are 28.1 million kids in America who play basketball.
About 31.5% of them play high school basketball, while another 18.6% play in local recreation leagues.
About 0.03% of those 28.1 million kids make it to the NBA.
Cal High basketball prodigies Bradye Kuykendall and Juremi Ejuwa, both juniors, are shooting for their spot in that 0.03%. Kuykendall and Ejuwa made major impacts for the Grizzlies this past season, and both were recently added to elite programs
“They are both really valued players on the team, and they are made for basketball,” freshman Nonso Ifediora said.
A star power forward and small forward on Cal’s varsity team, Ejuwa has joined the Jaylen Wells Elite basketball program, which is headed by the Memphis Grizzlies rookie standout himself.
“When I got the invite, I was excited because I knew it was going to be a higher level of competition than I usually play,” Ejuwa said.
When the roster for the 17U program came out on March 25 on Instagram, Ejuwa was front and center representing Cal.
“It definitely makes sense,” said Anish Chilkuri, a senior captain for Cal’s team. “I think he has a lot to prove to people because he’s improving.”
But with such a prestigious program comes a lot of responsibility as well as competition. Ten players in the program have all proven their worth to be a part of this program, meaning there is no room for mistakes.
Additionally, Wells adds a coat of nerves to the players as he is always watching to see who stands out.
Still, Chris Torrey, one of the four varsity assistant coaches and a major voice for Cal’s basketball program, believes Ejuwa will remain unfazed in the heat of pressure.
“Juremi doesn’t need to be pushed,” Torrey said. “He’s super self-motivated. He does a lot for the team.”
By being a part of Wells’ program, Ejuwa stands out to college coaches, making his aspirations for the next level within reach.
Starting basketball at the age of five, Ejuwa played for fun until he began to see the love and joy in this sport. This led him to join the high school team, play competitively, and get more serious about his pursuit of the sport.
Ejuwa is now regular fixture within Cal’s rotation who makes a big impact on the game whenever he steps on the hardwood.
Torrey has noticed rapid growth in Ejuwa’s game.
“It’s incredible that he only started five years ago, yet he’s already at such a high level,” Torrey said.
Meanwhile, Kuykendall is making a name for himself by competing in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). Nike’s EYBL circuit is considered as one of the top AAU sneaker circuits, featuring some of the best players and teams in the nation.
This sets the bar pretty high for Kuykendall and his team.But competing in the Nike Circuit helps Kuykendall to be recognized by college scouts.
“I already have a couple of colleges talking to me,” Kuykendall said, “This is a good way for me to continue basketball in the future.”
On Cal’s team, Kuykendall is a team captain who plays shooting and point guard. He finished last season as the team’s second leading scorer, averaging 12 points per game and totaling 348 points for the season.
“He’s playing on a high caliber team [in the Nike Circuit] and that takes a lot of dedication,” Torrey said. “But you just have to lock in.”
Both of these powerhouse players have carved their path to have a future in basketball. With a consistent and dedicated effort, the two are on the cusp of achieving their dreams.
