Isaiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre did it. Same for Terry Cummings, Eddie Johnson, Doc Rivers, Michael Finley, Antonie Walker, Maurice Cheeks and Cazzie Russell. Indeed, there have been plenty of cases of Chicago high school basketball stars returning home as
Now, local fans are hoping former Simeon high school star Derrick Rose will play his professional ball at home. “We’ve had some very outstanding high school basketball players in this city over the years, but most of them have gone on to play professionally in other cities,” said log time Bulls season ticket holder Jim Scott.
“Having Derrick Rose playing for the Bulls would be greater than Michael Jordan. While we all embraced Jordan as one of our own, but actually he belonged to North Carolina. As that television slogan once said, Derrick Rose is one of our very own.”
By capturing the first pick in next month’s NBA Draft, the Bulls are in position to select Rose, who led Simeon to two straight Class AA state titles before taking Memphis to the NCAA championship game this past March. Rose said it would be great to play for his hometown Bulls. “It would be nice to make by hometown proud and give my family and friends the opportunity to see me play often,” Rose told the Chicago Sun- Times.
While many consider the Bulls taking Rose as a “no-brainer,” Bulls general manager said its not so certain what his team will do with the pick. Paxson definitely has options with the first pick. Instead of Rose, he could choose 6-10 power forward Michael Beasley of Kansas State or he could even trade the pick and land an established veteran. “I love the position we’re in,” Paxson says. The debate rages in city on whether the Bulls should take Rose or Beasley.
Both players fill a need for the Bulls. Rose as the point guard team needs and Beasley as the strong inside scoring punch they also have been missing. Beasley was a true inside force at Kansas State averaging 26.2 points and 12.5 rebouds a game. T
he rebounding average was the best in college basketball this past season. “You have two players who are different and unique,” Paxson said of Rose and Beasley. “One (Rose) is a point guard and that’s a natural leadership position on the team. It’s something every team covets. “The other player (Beasley) has the unique ability to put the ball in the basketball and would be a go-to-scorer.”
One scout says the Bulls would have to change their offense to accommodate Rose. “The Bulls would have to get rid of that triangle offense if they want Rose to be their point guard,” says the NBA scout. “The Bulls have a great problem,” says the scout. “They have a choice between two great players with superstar written all over them. “They can’t go wrong either way.”
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