Coming into his freshman season at West Aurora, the returning varsity basketball players knew that Juwan Starks was a dominant middle school player.
"I knew he could be a big player," senior Markus Cocroft said. "We wanted to see what he could do on the varsity level, and he's shown that he can play with us."
Starks has made an immediate impact as a Blackhawk this season, cementing a role in the starting lineup and even providing highlight-reel moments such as his buzzer-beater against Joliet at the Pontiac tournament last month. Starks led West in scoring at that tournament, signaling his arrival as a varsity player.
"That was very exciting," Starks said. "A lot of people called me after that game to celebrate."
But coming into the season, Starks had no idea that all of this was going to be in store for him.
"I thought I was going to be on JV or be a backup," Starks said. "Coach had a list up in his office (after tryouts) and I saw my name on the list. I was actually shocked. I didn't even know I was going to play. I was more nervous than excited."
But now Starks, a lanky 6-foot-4 wing player, knows he fits in with the big boys. But he is still young, meaning that coach Gordie Kerkman will have to live with some growing pains throughout the season.
"He doesn't get intimidated out there," Kerkman said. "It may look like it sometimes, but he just doesn't have all the moves yet that he's going to need. So sometimes there are situations where he could play a little better, but he doesn't have that experience yet. But it's not because he's afraid to do it."
One thing Kerkman is hoping to see by the end of the season is an ability for Starks to create more shots for himself, so he can make even more of an impact. For example, Starks scored six points in Saturday's win at West Chicago, shooting only 2-of-4 from the field.
"He's a really good shooter," Kerkman said. "But he's got to learn how to get himself more shots. He's got to learn to shoot shots off the dribble, forcing guys off of him, then rising up to shoot the jumper. And he will. Hopefully he'll learn by the end of the year, but he's only a freshman."
Starks has made himself known on the court for another reason besides his play in the past few weeks. Prior to the Pontiac tournament, Starks made a fashion statement that is still present. He is rocking the Mohawk look on the court, making him stand out for more than just buzzer-beating jumpers.
"The whole team was going to get them for the (annual East Aurora vs. West Aurora game), but I did it a little early," Starks said.
With the way he's played halfway through his freshman season, his hair style is not the only thing that has arrived just a little early.
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