City of Palms: Jacob Wilkins, son of Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, following father's legacy
“NBA players have always cast a long shadow over their sons' playing careers. Unfair comparisons can spoil a budding career before it even beings, and players with a lot of talent suffer because of it.
That is not the case for Jacob Wilkins.
When Wilkins gets the ball in transition, you can tell he has the Human Highlight Reel's genes. The 6-foot-7 forward wears No. 21 and goes by Baby Highlight, a nod to his father Dominque Wilkins' nickname, and for good reason.
His speed and athleticism set the stage for some seriously entertaining dunks and has the physical tools to defend multiple positions once he fills out his frame. He's shown off those skills for Grayson (Ga.) at the City of Palms Classic this week, posting 22 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block in an 85-68 win over AZ Millennium on Saturday. Grayson plays Owasso Monday afternoon in the Fifth-Place Final.
Wilkins committed to Georgia, his father's alma mater, before his junior season. Dominique Wilkins averaged nearly 22 points per game for the Bulldogs from 1979-82 before being picked third overall in the 1982 NBA Draft. He built a legendary 15-year career, culminating with his Basketball Hall of Fame induction in 2006.
Last year, the younger Wilkins took an official visit to Georgia on Oct. 28 and pledged just three days later. He signed during this year's November signing period over Alabama, Virginia, and Indiana among others.
"I felt great, just getting it out of the way," Wilkins said about his signing. "I committed my junior, and most people commit in their senior year, but I knew where I wanted to be... Those seeds had been planted for a while now. I knew where I wanted to go, I knew I was comfortable there, and I just want to make a name for myself at Georgia."
Playing for the Bulldogs has been a long time coming for Wilkins. But while he may be a legacy, he's determined to forge his own trail in Georgia.
That starts while still at Grayson. The City of Palms has made it a point to host the many NBA-caliber players that come out of the Peach State's large public school scene, and Wilkins knows how special it is for the Rams to be the school that earned the nod this year. Leading the Rams to wins over elite private schools that recruit nationally has been a point of pride for him.
"It's very important," he said. "I want people all around the world to know that just because we're a public school doesn't mean we can't compete with everybody. We're ranked, and we don't want people to just think like 'Oh yeah, they're okay.' We came to show people that we're actually a good team."
But beyond his career as a Ram, Wilkins says he wants to establish himself as an entity. Rather than being seen as the son of Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, he wants to be known as Jacob Wilkins, elite forward and NBA prospect.
"I want to people to have a brand of me," he said. "Like when they see me, I want them to already know what I'm coming with, and that people know what I bring to the table."
While he's well on his way to writing his own story, Wilkins knows how valuable his father's treasure trove of experience is. He says he relied on his advice throughout the recruiting process and leaned on his perspective because he walked a similar path many years ago.
"(My dad was) very involved," he said. "Every question that I got from a coach, I would go and clarify with him ― like am I doing the right thing, or does this sound good? Because you know he's been there. He's been to Georgia, he's been in The League. So he guided me through everything. He told me to go and actually take a visit, and when I feel at home I'm going to know it's right when I'm there."
While Dominique Wilkins' legacy may seem insurmountable, Jacob has already cemented himself as one of the nation's elite basketball players. He has the talent and physical tools to succeed at the Division I level, and a few months in an SEC weight room will only prepare him more for the NBA.”
https://www.news-press.com/story/sp...-basketball-hall-of-fame-atlanta/77151794007/
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