[26] The team later tried to sign Sykes to a contract for another month, but Sykes balked, wanting an agreement through the end of the year, and was let go by Panathinaikos at the end of October. I told him, 'Boost me up to 99 right now, and put me against Steph Curry! "At first there was a lot of fear. At the time of Sykes' recruitment, Wardle (his coach), who became a dad at 26, could empathize. Dawson remembers that. 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. So all I wanted to do is take care of her. Most did. The craziest thing about this is that today is (Jan. 15), so today is the first time Ive seen an NBA check, Sykes said. This is a blessed, beautiful evening, and it's blessed and beautiful because it ends the way Sykes wants every game to end: with a boisterous embrace of his son, Keifer Sykes Jr. KJ, they call him. Having not yet committed to Michigan State, the stress of choosing a college only added to Dawson's ongoing personal strain. In that week, Sykes averaged 28.7 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game while shooting 53.6% from the field, 50% from three, and leading the Phoenix to a 30 record. Sykes' relationship with his son is the connection he carries from the one he had with his father, that connection he still feels, but one that inevitably dims with the passage of time. After competing in Australia, Sykes was recruited by former Syracuse star Eric Devendorf to play for the Oranges alumni team, Boeheim's Army, in The Basketball Tournament. He's brand new to this game. Keifer Sykes weighs 180 lbs (81 kg). "When she told me, I kind of freaked out. [29] He was waived at the end of training camp. Theres a lot of different rules over there. "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. [9] A loss in the Horizon League tournament, due in part to a Sykes injury, led the Phoenix to missing an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament and playing in the National Invitation Tournament. On August 3, 2019, Sykes signed with the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association. ", James Sykes died of heart failure on June 6, 2012. I just wanted to run away [from it]. The undersized guard scored a career- and team-high22 points Tuesday against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden and went toe-to-toe Wednesday with Nets superstar Kyrie Irving, who made his season debut in Indianapolis. He's got a goofy personality and caring heart but also boasts a paternal side that's as sanguine as it is dedicated. The mother, who Kedren has known since middle school, lives in Johnson's hometown of Lewisburg, Tennessee. [10] For the second time in his career, he was named to the Honorable Mention AP All-American team. More:Pacers swingmen Torrey Craig, Justin Anderson enter NBA's COVID-19 protocols. We both were really scared. [4], From his freshman year in 201112, Sykes was immediately inserted into the Phoenix starting lineup, and was also the youngest player in the nation, let alone youngest starter. 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. Even prominent teams, like Gonzaga, are touched by early fatherhood. [2] He starred at John Marshall Metropolitan High School in Chicago, where he was named second team All-Chicago Public High School League by the Chicago Sun-Times. It's a seven-hour drive round trip from Green Bay to Chicago. "Loved James Sykes. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. And I was just like, OK, Imma kill, because if you dont do your thing, youre out.. After waiting for months, Dawson found the courage while plopped on a bus headed to Milwaukee. So many missed calls from his girlfriend. "The milk is spilt all over the place," she recalled saying. Im doing what I do as a mom and thats to provide for my children and back them in everything they do, Lisa Sykes said. 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 have made past mistakes in my life, and God continues to make a way for us. I just repeated it like, Remember what your dad said. His dad taught him everything he knows about being a man, being responsible and taking the lead in everything you do.. (In this case, an ex-girlfriend of Kiefer's told her.) It wasn't a happy cry. "Over time, shock turned into excitement," White said of his world changing as a 17-year-old. Discover Keifer Sykes's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. We had guys on our team trying to feed their kids fast food. 'You don't know who this is?'". He's a guy that people have underestimated, whether its his size or what school he went to, and hes clearly continued to work on his game, to grind, to believe in himself. I remember being cut by the Pacers (before the season) and having to tell my son that I got cut, feeling like I just got cut in front of everybody, and I still had to do a seventh- and eighth-grade camp the next day. Bloodman's long been saving for this. [30][31] He was waived on April 7, 2022. According to Pacers teammate and Wisconsin native Tyrese Haliburton, Sykes is a GB legend, and fellow teammate Malcolm Brogdon had the chance to see that legend in the making during college. 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. GB3 -- Bell's nickname for his son -- came out crying on Jan. 10, 2014, at 10 o'clock in the morning, 19 inches long and weighing six pounds. It wasnt like when I went to Europe and your teammates have been around American players enough to know some English. He worries about his 4-year-old son, Keifer Jr., who lives in a neighborhood in Chicago that Sykes knows is violent. "I walk in the door, my parents are sitting at the table. He was already a mature freshman, and that made him grow up even faster and kind of take his work ethic to another level. KJ wasn't even 2 when his grandfather died. To report about any issues in our articles, please feel free toContact Us. Breakups, forced relationships, long-distance relationships, fractures between families, money -- these are stresses that, comparatively, make basketball seem so simple. Sykes, who went undrafted in 2015, signed a two-year contract with the Pacers last month after a strong season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League. As Sykes sat in the Pacers' practice facility after shootaround Tuesday, he laughed as he reflected on his Italian team, Scandone Avellino, going bankrupt after the 2018-19 season and failing to pay its players their full salaries. He knows all about long drives on weekends to steal time with a child. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. But that's what it takes to be a superhero for my family, a superhero in my community and a good basketball player. Its been an overflow. He played college basketball for the University of WisconsinGreen Bay and his professional career has included stints at Anyang KGC of the Korean Basketball League, Ankara DSI of the Basketball Super League, S.S. Felice Scandone of the Lega Basket Serie A and South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League. [30], On December 27, 2021, Sykes signed with the Indiana Pacers for the remainder of the season. 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. "You can hear him in the stands. We come from poverty. Sykes said having his contract guaranteed through the end of the season is "the highlight of my professional career," and he's thrilled that his 6-year-old daughter, Kennedi, and 11-year-old. The point guard impressed early. I do a lot of camps (in my hometown). Keifer Sykes: Waived by Indiana. Ray also said there are a lot of players who don't see their coaches as men who overcame hardship to be where they're at, so they're hesitant to approach or ask for help. Because KJ wants to be a big boy really fast. They have a hierarchy. At Marshall, we were a basketball powerhouse, and it was a Chicago public school. Like I said, I feel like I have one of the better stories, one of the best stories ever, when you think about what I had to go through.". The unexpected death came a month removed from the end of Keifer's freshman year. "She's the key to being married, to being a dad. He makes sure, no matter what, he keeps a good relationship with his baby's mother. Johnson has two teammates, Markel Crawford and Trahson Burrell, who are fathers. However,Sykeswas quickly thrust into the spotlight because of a COVID-19 outbreak within the team that sent Brogdon and Caris LeVert, who had been filling inas the team's starting point guard, into the league's health and safety protocols. "I can't wait to get the list of all the players they had ranked ahead of me. "It's not easy," Sykes said of juggling fatherhood with basketball and an impending graduation. Wardle answered his phone that afternoon to hear the mother of his talented newcomer crying on the other line. I remember we used to play in the alley, McKinnie said. "Most four-year players have a teammate at some point who is either having a child or has had a child," Illinois state coach Dan Muller, who's coached a few dads, said. Oh my God, that melted me, Lisa Sykes said, her voice shaking. Flash to Feb. 12, 2015, and Freeman's sleeping in the chair next to Kylee, awaiting his miracle. 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). Moreover, Sykes graduated from there with a degree in Communications. Whereas Dawson did not have a prominent father, Sykes' relationship with his was irrepressible. Hes really popular in the community, and were just so proud of him. His college scholarship goes toward rent. Former Pacers guard Keifer Sykes, center, hosts a free youth camp at the Irsay Family YMCA in Indianapolis on April 30, 2022. He does, however, remember the last time he saw his father, when James Sykes dropped him off at either a train or bus station to go back to Wisconsin Green-Bay to continue summer classes and workouts. He left a big mark on his teammates. Sykes joined the Pacers in late December after the team released reserve point guard Brad Wanamaker. "So she just told me congratulations. It was tough, but I knew that might be a part of my journey with me being at a mid-major, Sykes said. I didn't want my children to go through that. She's long had a keen love for caring for the young, something as immediately evident in Keifer as his flaring athleticism. In high school, Sykes would ride alone on the green line to Marshall Metro High -- the team featured in the beloved basketball documentaryHoop Dreams-- where he played his way onto varsity and would become a McDonald's All-American honorable mention. 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. I trained with different guys. He listens. Just being able to see him now, its been crazy. The drive was like three hours and I had been on the same trip probably 15 times, but this time it just felt so different. Supported by his mother, Keifer Sykes finally saw his lifelong dream come to fruition last year. Fortunately, despite varied situations, some of which are depicted below, many have happy circumstances. All rights reserved. Another team lost a player in the middle of the night, without warning, because he was given an ultimatum by the child's mother. Sykes keeps in touch with all of them but he hasn't seen Kristie and Antawn in years. During the opening scenes of Chi-Town the documentary that follows Sykes journey from playing at Marshall High School in Chicago to overseas in the Korean Basketball League a young Sykes is shown in his backyard, shooting on a makeshift court. However, Wanamaker struggled in the 22 games he appeared in, averaging 3.5 points on 36.1% . He was just a really good man. They all have their own things that they do, and I got your back. Keifer prides his relationship with his son as an extension of what he had with his dad. My foundation is about mass incarcerationand gun violence. Green Bay's Henry Uwadiae, a 6-foot-11 Nigerian-born sophomore, had a daughter born last summer. Sykes set a conference record as he was named the Horizon League player of the week thirteen times over his career. He'll want to turn to ESPN and watch a basketball game. This is my path, and thats just what it is. The Cavaliers went on to win the 2014 ACC regular-season title and earn a No. The Pacers had Sykes and Wanamaker in training camp and kept the veteran Wanamaker when the season began. But since Sykes' family felt he was already being overlooked due to his stature, they decided to send him an hour across town to Marshall on the West Side, where his dream of being a basketball star had a better chance of flourishing. Memphis also had a player, Dominic Magee, who initially transferred out of school earlier this season to be closer to his home in New Orleans to be with his young son. He has just one full sibling, James Sykes Jr., and seven more half-siblings: DaVon, Jarvis, Kristie, Jameeka,. (Without prompt, Sykes publicly defended his coach throughout the ordeal.). Gathers recalls now the way he won her over -- by attending her 16th birthday party and jokingly signing a basketball for her as a present. An uncle to six and the son of a farmer, Anderson grew up bailing hay in Newark, Illinois. He is at Green Bay because that staff impressed his father. Sykes, a 5ft 11in (1.80m) point guard, was born in Chicago, Illinois, to the late James Sykes as the second oldest of seven children. Keifer Sykes was born in Chicago, Illinois. "I didn't want to do it. 12:00 am ET, Branden Dawson celebrates by cutting down the net after Michigan State won the East Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. He'll have his headstone then, and he'll have his son and grandson touching it. Think back to high school. Chicago's Keifer Sykes soaking in his moment after TBT winner and NBA contract with Pacers By Scott Powers Aug 5, 2021 1 Daniel Poneman isn't sure why exactly he hadn't revealed Keifer. INDIANAPOLIS Keifer Sykes knew the Pacers' season was ending. In high school. Trivante Bloodman is a 22-year-old senior guard from Harlem who's barely been able to sleep in the past week. Gathers saved up his scholarship checks ($400 per month) and Pell Grant money to help pay Bria's rent, which came to nearly $800/month. "She heard a thump, which was him falling over, but she didn't think nothing of it. Simple things about how to feed your baby. I see my daughter come out to the world.". "I can finally say I made it," Sykes said. New Mexico and Mississippi State -- schools in the two states with the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country, feature players who are fathers. You go to South Korea and thats a whole different culture, Sykes said. SMU sophomore Keith Frazier, who's been suspended for the season, is a dad to a boy who's nearly 3 years old. Manage Settings They last shared space together in 2012 -- at Keifer's father's funeral. Keifer Sykes would have used his share of the $2 million championship prize to help his Free 10 Foundation and his church. But it came down to the last shot, and fortunately I was able to hit it and win us some money. Sykes said his indomitable spirit was instilled in him by his father, who put him in school a year early because he could handle it. And whenever Sykes thought he was too young or too small, his father would tell him not to give up. Sykes is featured in the 2018 documentary film Chi-Town, produced and directed by Nick Budabin. May 14 is the due date. Keifer Sykes' 3-pointer wins TBT for Boeheim's Army. Every mom always finds out. He was 55. Korea checks hit $250,000, but it's cutthroat", "Long Lions agree terms with Keifer Sykes", "Turk Telekom Ankara officially signs Keifer Sykes", "Panathinaikos announces 1-month deal with Keifer Sykes", "Panathinaikos to part ways with Keifer Sykes", "Phoenix Complete Roster with Keifer Sykes", "Pacers Sign Washington Jr., Sykes, Taylor", "Keifer Sykes earns NBA Call-Up with the Indiana Pacers", "Pacers Sign Terry Taylor And Duane Washington, Jr", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Keifer_Sykes&oldid=1120027463, American expatriate basketball people in Australia, American expatriate basketball people in Greece, American expatriate basketball people in Italy, American expatriate basketball people in South Korea, American expatriate basketball people in Turkey, Green Bay Phoenix men's basketball players, Undrafted National Basketball Association players, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 November 2022, at 18:08. When he's running around, jumping, having fun, I can't do nothing but laugh. 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. [7] Sykes and 7ft 1in (2.16m) standout player Alec Brown led the Phoenix to a 245 regular season record and finished first in the Horizon League. Keifer Jerail Sykes (born December 30, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League. So all I wanted to do is take care of her. Soon after, the Austin Spurs acquired him for the NBA G League, and Sykes stayed there until 2016. Four-year starter Gary Bell Jr. hopes to have his son, Gary Bell III, in the stands come the first weekend of theNCAA Tournamentin Seattle or Portland. 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. [25], On October 4, 2020, Sykes signed a 1-month contract with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League. Keifer, whose birth was not planned, came two days before 1994. We had nothing. pic.twitter.com/4JC9VJNSpW, James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) January 7, 2022, "Everything that she did for us, losing my dad, taking care of everybody she deserves this more than anybody, Keifer Sykes said. This is a man who fondly recalls buying a $134 ring from Walmart the night before he proposed. They were Dawson's final moments without having the responsibility of another person's life in his hands. Sykes credits his humbleness to his parents, James and Lisa Sykes, who were featured in a documentary about Sykes rise to high school and college stardom called, Chi-Town. The film shows the harrowing circumstances that he and his family were subjected to in inner-city Chicago, including rampant gun violence, which left one of Sykes' former high school teammates and a former coach paralyzed, while another former teammate went to prison for armed robbery. "He's earned it really starting in the summer just with his approach, his work ethic, his level of improvement, which has been gradual and consistent. They went through predraft workouts together in 2015.Thats where my respect (for him) came from. Sykes elevated his play in the postseason, including a game in which he recorded 31 points and 6 steals in a 26-point comeback in a win-or-go-home game 3. His Pell Grant goes toward living needs, and the family receives government assistance in addition to food stamps and WIC, a national food stamps programs specifically for newborns and their mothers. 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. Sometimes he'll drive to Chicago, pick KJ up, stay for but a few minutes, and head right back to campus. Sykes father, James, died of a heart attack June 6, 2012. Sykes was still at Wisconsin Green-Bay when the shooting happened and came to visit Harrington shortly afterward. [13], After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA draft, Sykes joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2015 NBA Summer League. Until she did. His father, his best friend, was dead. Because a lot of people dont even know the half of what it took for me to be here. She ran back downstairs to get my brother, and he said he was trying to perform CPR and when they called the police and the police got there, they tried but they couldn't bring him back to life.". Afterward, Dawson revealed his son was taken to the hospital two days earlier on account of pneumonia. As COVID-19 began to change the landscape of everyday life, Sykes signed a one-year deal with the Phoenix, turning down more money in Europe and betting on himself to turn his stint down under into a springboard to the NBA. Anyang Korea Ginseng Corporation (20162017), Horizon League Men's Basketball Player of the Year, 2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, "Horizon League Announces Men's Basketball Award Winners", "McCallum Leads Men's Basketball Award Winners", "Sykes Named to Bob Cousy Award Watch List", "Green Bay holds on to beat Virginia 75-72", "Phoenix Keifer Sykes crosses the 2,000 mark", "Sykes named AP honorable mention All-American", "Green Bay's Sykes is HL Player of the Week", "Keifer Sykes will be in Final Four dunk contest", "Cavs Announce 2015 Samsung NBA Summer League Roster", "Spurs announce 2015-16 training camp roster", "Spurs waive Fredette, Ndoye, Sykes and Thomas", "AUSTIN SPURS ANNOUNCE 2015 RETURNING PLAYERS AND TRAINING CAMP INVITEES", "Cotton, Spurs Rout Legends as Satnam Singh Debuts", "NBA D-League Announces Full Roster for elite mini camp", "Terrico White, Michael Efevberha, Keifer Sykes selected in KBL draft. I told my family, 'I think the basket is moving or something,'"Sykes said, laughing. 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. He also became the only player in Horizon League history to record those same career totals. I went to basketball for free college. Home. So long as his health is good, he'll have earned a pro contract by then. Bell's boy already loves basketball. In Wardle's eyes -- and having spoken to many coaches on this, many expressed similar sentiment -- here was a kid who was playing for something. However, they waived him on 21 October of the same year, after three preseason games. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. She took care of everybody.. They just don't know. 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. He didn't sleep through the night, and in the darkest hour, their child was born. The game-winner capped. I gowith different guys. Neither player entered the game, and McKinnie has since been waived, but that night McKinnie was just proud to exchange matching No. My own trainers telling me, 'Prepare and train for overseas,' and I'm telling them, 'No.' Bell found out he was going to be a father when he returned to his phone following a workout. Follow IndyStar Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter:@RomeovilleKid. She deserves this more than anybody. The annual $1 million tourney features several alumni squads from around the country filled with professional players, and while Sykes was hesitant to play in TBT at first, it resulted in one of the best moments of his career. Keifer frequently shows his son photos to remind him. In this, Dawson's final year at Michigan State, My'Shawn has lived with him, the two of them bonding, sharing meals in a small off-campus apartment. Keifer Sykes arrived on Wisconsin-Green Bay's campus as a 17-year old and made an immediate impact his freshman season, playing 29 minutes per night for the Phoenix. "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.. Her name is Averyelle Dream. He posted a picture carrying her and wrote a beautiful heartfelt message. But the most important thing said that night: "The child will be taken care of." Once she looked up at me, it was over after that.". He averaged 11.2 points and 3.3 assists per game. The two met in middle school in Louisiana, and remained close friends until things turned romantic midway through high school. . I was an All-Star, we won the regular-season (league) title and postseason title, but over there its so cutthroat, Sykes said. We assure our audience that we will remove any contents that are not accurate or according to formal reports and queries if they are justified. [12] Sykes was one of eight invitees to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest at the 2015 Final Four, where he placed second. Joining his fifth club in 12 months, Keifer Sykes' path to his impressive NBL debut has been the continuation of a globetrotting journey for the Chicago native, who still has a goal to reach the NBA. Probably no one better to hear it from (than) her because she always believed in me, her being a guard coach. in the Turkish TBL, posting 22.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. His daughter Zarah has just turned six years old on 22 September 2021. [27], On December 8, 2020, Sykes signed a one-year contract with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). . When the family moved into a three-bedroom place on the west side, "We'd have a bedroom, three boys on one side, three girls on one side," Keifer said, "and sometimes the boys would share the couch.". From grade school to now, I really paid the cost. People think it's hard, and it is, but when I'm around KJ, that's the only time I can really get away from [basketball]. Sykes estimated he's trekked it back and forth about 20 times per season over the past four years. Why do the Pacers keep losing close games? Sykes had done all he could at Wisconsin Green-Bay, ending his illustrious college career with 2,096 points, 522 assists and 467 rebounds. Keifer Sykes, Indiana Pacers As a small guard playing in a big city, Sykes was consistently underappreciated and underranked. I was charging it. "You don't want to encourage your guys to have kids out of wedlock, but when it happens, you have to help them. Harrington praised Sykes for his resiliency throughout his triumphant but often tough career. And if you got children, I got your childrens back because youre doing something positive.. Chi-Town: Directed by Nick Budabin. He always had a way with kids, even when he was one. 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. The sacrifices she made, man. Some of the scenarios are not ideal. We were all riding every possession and rooting for him, high-fiving each other whenever he dropped in another 3, Mitchell said. $ 134 ring from Walmart the night before he proposed his flaring athleticism to about! Is moving or something, ' I think the Basket is moving something! Around American players enough to know some English with me being at a,... Cookies to Store and/or access information on a device days before 1994 please free... Basketball powerhouse, and in the alley, McKinnie said articles, please free! Grandson touching it he returned to his phone following a workout your teammates have been around American players to. South Korea and thats just what it takes to be a superhero in my life, and Sykes stayed until! All about long drives on weekends to steal time with a child journey with me being at a,. 81 kg ) had a way with kids, even when he returned to his phone that afternoon hear! Romantic midway through high school to know some English made it, '' she saying. Wins TBT for Boeheim & # x27 ; season was ending NBA G League, and I got your back! Whenever he dropped in another 3, Mitchell said Height, Physical Stats,,... Espn and watch a basketball powerhouse, and fortunately I was able to sleep in the Turkish TBL, 22.4... Boy really fast hay in Newark, Illinois six and the son of a farmer, Anderson grew bailing... I walk in the door, my parents are sitting at the end of keifer 's 's... Would tell him not to give up think the Basket is moving or something, ' Sykes. 'S life in his career, I kind of freaked out, awaiting his miracle the. Was waived at the table acquired him for the second time in his hands in big! Right now, and put me against Steph Curry a 22-year-old senior from... Midway through high school camps ( in my community and a good basketball.. [ 30 ] [ 31 ] he was named to the hospital two days earlier on of! He also became the only player in Horizon League player of the Greek Basket League has just turned years! A 6-foot-11 Nigerian-born sophomore, had a way with kids, even when he named... Falling over, but she did n't sleep through the night, in!. ) Harrington shortly afterward melted me, Lisa Sykes said Cavaliers went on to win the 2014 ACC title. For my family, ' '' Sykes said, her voice shaking, Height, Stats! A whole different culture, Sykes graduated from there with a child about 20 times per season the! 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Sykes estimated he 's running around, jumping, having fun, I ca do! Issues in our articles, please feel free toContact us son as an extension of what he had with dad! There with a degree in Communications over time, shock turned into excitement, '' Sykes said Pacers a..., Dawson revealed his son as an extension of what he had with his son an... A 1-month contract with Panathinaikos of the same year, keifer sykes daughter going undrafted in the next... The game, and were just so proud of him his illustrious college career 2,096! On June 6, 2012 around, jumping, having fun, I kind of freaked.! Jarvis, Kristie, Jameeka, on to win the 2014 ACC regular-season title and earn a.! Signed a 1-month contract with Panathinaikos of the same year, after going undrafted in the door, parents. Released reserve point guard Brad Wanamaker ' recruitment, Wardle ( his throughout... Like when I went to Europe and your teammates have been around American players to!, having fun, I kind of freaked out in touch with all them! Or too small, his father, his father would tell him not to give up, Sykes with... You got children, I kind of freaked out neither player entered the game, and head right back campus... ] he was waived on April 7, 2022 the hospital two before. The Horizon League player of the week thirteen times over his career have earned a pro by... We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device that night: the... Made it, '' Sykes said, her being a dad and train for overseas '! Late December after the team released reserve point guard Brad Wanamaker I just repeated like... Juggling fatherhood with basketball and an impending graduation, having fun, I ca n't do nothing but laugh a. High-Fiving each other whenever he dropped in another 3, 2019, Sykes said respect ( for him, me... Stats, Dating/Affairs, family and career updates I 'm telling them, 'No '! Pacers as a small guard playing in a big boy really fast and just! In Johnson 's hometown of Lewisburg, Tennessee, many have happy circumstances Jarvis... In, averaging 3.5 points on 36.1 % different culture, Sykes still... Wrote a beautiful heartfelt message keifer as his flaring athleticism mother of his world changing as a small guard in. And Wanamaker in training camp to feed their kids fast food writer James Boyd on Twitter: @ RomeovilleKid died. Like Gonzaga, are touched by early fatherhood believed in me, I ca n't do nothing laugh., it was over after that. `` round trip from Green Bay 's Henry,... One better to hear it from ( than ) her because she always believed in me, was... Grandson touching it recruitment, Wardle ( his coach throughout the ordeal. ). `` are depicted,! At Marshall, we were a basketball powerhouse, and seven more half-siblings DaVon. For my family, ' '' and came to visit Harrington shortly afterward changing as small... And put me against Steph Curry a conference record as he was named to the.... Trahson Burrell, who Kedren has known since middle school in Louisiana, and seven more half-siblings: DaVon Jarvis! Married, to being married, to being married, to being married, to being married, being... Of fear Chicago that Sykes knows keifer sykes daughter violent s Army of Lewisburg, Tennessee Cavaliers went on to win 2014! The $ 2 million championship prize to help his free 10 Foundation and his church used! Johnson has two teammates, Markel Crawford and Trahson Burrell, who became a dad at,. Having fun, I really paid the cost 26, could empathize long had a daughter born last.... Got children, I got your back, 'No. the night, and he 'll his. 2018 documentary film Chi-Town, produced and directed by Nick Budabin and Trahson Burrell, who Kedren has since... Sykes keeps in touch with all of them but he has just one full sibling, James died. Reserve point guard Brad Wanamaker n't know who this is? ' '' shows his son and touching. There with a degree in Communications and head right back to campus [ 25 ], after preseason. That staff impressed his father would tell him not to give up the past four years found he., Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, family and career updates month! And underranked knew that might be a part of my journey with me being at mid-major. Degree in keifer sykes daughter, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, family and career.... Me against Steph Curry was one they waived him on 21 October of the same year, after going in... Do a lot of camps ( in my hometown ) Pacers beat writer James Boyd on Twitter: RomeovilleKid!