We had nothing, man. Lisa Sykes was asking her son's coach to tell Keifer his father was gone because she couldn't bear to do it. There's more to life than basketball. Perfect place for an unforgettable night in a tiny, half-filled gym, Illinois-Chicago's UIC Pavilion. Probably no one better to hear it from (than) her because she always believed in me, her being a guard coach. He admits now it was a lot to go through. Five and a half years later, James and Lisa Sykes married, on April 27, 1999. Sykes was selected in the second round of the 2016 Korean Basketball League by the Anyang Korea Ginseng Corporation, taking a 15-hour trip across the world that began a roughly five-year journey abroad. I thought I was going to pass out, but I stayed strong. "Keifer Sykes was a +27," Pacers assistant coach Mike Weinar said when spotlighting players who were effective in a summer league win over the Wizards. James Sykes, a former vice president of the Broadway Armory Park association, is buried at Memorial Gardens in Homewood, Illinois. 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. [17], On November 13, Sykes made his professional debut in a 10482 win over the Texas Legends, recording eight points, one rebound, six assists and three steals in 17 minutes off the bench. So all I wanted to do is take care of her. My brother calls me and gives me the news, literally out of my sleep. But it doesnt matter. I remember looking up in the clouds like, My dad is in heaven already? Ill never forget that I was holding myself together until we got to the corner and turned down my block, thats when I was just like, Damn and broke down like crazy. His camp is having trouble getting them admitted into the road arenas. He knows all about long drives on weekends to steal time with a child. Bloodman's long been saving for this. And when Michigan State's got a road game, he'll ask Johnny or Devonte, "Is that my dad playing?". Assistant coach Jenny Boucek brokethe news. I trained with different guys. The season included an upset over eventual Atlantic Coast Conference regular season champion (and NCAA tournament 1-seed) Virginia in a game which saw Sykes score 21 points and distribute 10 assists. Thats my dream, but I know the odds of going to the NBA, so Ill just use basketball to get as far as I can.. I went to basketball for free college. (Virginia coach) Tony Bennett went to Green Bay and was a legend there, and I think Keifer was the guy thats been next in line as the second or first greatest player to play there. He kept it from her as long as possible; the "entire school" knew about it, but she didn't. More:Pacers swingmen Torrey Craig, Justin Anderson enter NBA's COVID-19 protocols. The next day, Bloodman played 18 minutes against Kentucky. He says there's more than $5,000 of his own cash allotted toward parenthood. He was 16. Aubrey was born at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24. And whatever makes the mother happy, it's all about making the child happy. Until now, Sykes has never told the story of how he became a father, what the birth was like, the angst he went through and how scared and shocked he was by the process. "I immediately fell in love with her.". More than a decade later, and after making a name for himself overseas, the only box Sykes said he had left to check was to beat the odds his younger self foretold and finally play in an NBA game. "Loved James Sykes. A lot of people really wanted to get to that league, especially at that time when COVID was everywhere in the world and they just had less cases," Sykes said. Keifer Jerail Sykes (born December 30, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League. And life off the court has been pock-marked with losses and tragedies tied to the gun violence that has riddled the streets of Chicago for a century. They saw my vision of playing in the NBA and we executed it.. "And when the baby came out, man, it was so cool to be part of that atmosphere," Freeman said. Of course he was worried about telling mom. "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. Almost nothing about Sykes' life or current situation is normal (he impregnated his then-girlfriend, Allyne, when he was 15). After being cut, Sykes could've left Indianapolis for good and focused . I didn't have goals to go further. He has not revealed his current relationship or marital status. We see him as one our guys, even though we only played a small part in his rise and elevation. Having not yet committed to Michigan State, the stress of choosing a college only added to Dawson's ongoing personal strain. Every situation is different. This June will mark a decade since Keifer Sykes father died, 10 years of carrying on without his biggest fan. Phoenix coach Simon Mitchell said their plan was always to help Sykes get closer to his dream. Mitchell become familiar with Sykes through his overseas play and thought he'd played out of position at shooting guard for most of his pro career. Buchanan, who leads URI in assists, played in Tuesday night's game against the Flyers, a vital one for Rhode Island's NCAA tourney at-large chances. Sykes won the 2015 Horizon League player of the year to join the elite company of players to win the award twice. "I wasn't trying to map out a strategy to go pro. I lost like 40 or 50 grand.". Sykes, a former point guard for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, sunk a pull-up three to give Boeheim's Army a 69-67 win over Team 23 in Tuesday's TBT championship. "One time I asked him, and he didn't know. "When she told me, I kind of freaked out. He also became the only player in Horizon League history to record those same career totals. Most did. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. I didnt go somewhere that eased me into it. So I was processing it, and then I didnt know what to do. 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. You can go to college. We commit to cover sensible issues responsibly through the principles of neutrality. "I didn't want to do it. She thought he had dropped something or whatever. Sykes became the only active player in the nation with 2,000+ points, 500+ assists, and 400+ rebounds. [14] On September 28, 2015, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs,[15] only to be waived by the team on October 21 after appearing in three preseason games. May 14 is the due date. At the time of Sykes' recruitment, Wardle (his coach), who became a dad at 26, could empathize. "My players say I don't understand, but I do understand," Ray said. Sykes, who these days has NBA scouts frequently traveling to gelid Green Bay, has previously bypassed chances to turn pro early in Europe. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-box-4','ezslot_3',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-box-4','ezslot_4',131,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-131{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Sykes spent one season in South Korea, but he said that was just the beginning of the hardships he faced as he continued playing in Italy, Greece, Turkey and China. 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. Chicago. But that nightmare hasn't ended, neither has the pain. Waiting. Every mom always finds out. I've heard a couple of times him screaming, 'Go, Daddy!' 1 seed and took them to Game 5, which is like Game 7 over there, and lost on their floor," Sykes said. " So Im always a fan of guys like Keifer that defy the odds.. Its a real heros journey.. To report about any issues in our articles, please feel free toContact Us. Sykes averaged a G-League-high 8.0 assists with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is confident he can be successful in the NBA, too, on offense and defense. 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. His daughter Zarah has just turned six years old on 22 September 2021. Even prominent teams, like Gonzaga, are touched by early fatherhood. Sykes is featured in the 2018 documentary film Chi-Town, produced and directed by Nick Budabin. "(My mom) put it together after the fact," Sykes said. Sykes said he had to rely on nonverbal communication skills to get on the same page as his counterparts, and after developing chemistry and playing well, it still wasnt enough. It's about mom just as much as dad. And for him to do that, it was just so overwhelming. of the Basketball Super League. Neither player entered the game, and McKinnie has since been waived, but that night McKinnie was just proud to exchange matching No. [25], On October 4, 2020, Sykes signed a 1-month contract with Panathinaikos of the Greek Basket League. "Little KJ is very outspoken, loud, and a joy to be around," Lisa Sykes said. Keifer Sykes is 29 years old. The big thing with me is, I want Keifer to be a good father first. "It's not easy, for me, but the best thing I have going on for me right now is my wife," Gathers said. I didn't have my phone. Having seen each other from afar in previous years, they met again, of all places, in an ER when she was 23. Soon after his death, the family could not afford to immediately put him in a grave, and to this day James Sykes does not have a headstone because of the cost. It's nothing else but about KJ.". In the 2017-18 season, Sykes played for Ankara DS S.K. Sykes had nearly 100 ticket requests for this game, and he will not disappoint the familiars. We play them (soon)!'" Sykes signed a non-guaranteed two-year deal with a team option for the second season with Indiana on Dec. 27, and the 5-11 guardfound out he'd been retained for his first seasonwhile at the team's practice facility Friday. I was kind of sad. He graduates in two months. [24], On September 13, 2020, Sykes signed with Trk Telekom B.K. The Pacers had Sykes and Wanamaker in training camp and kept the veteran Wanamaker when the season began. "At first there was a lot of fear. I shot that wing 3 against the Bulls,I air-balled. KJ doesn't know just yet how his grandfather died -- or even what death is, or that people disappear from the world in abrupt and unfair ways. Every year he's gotten better at balancing and understanding that. Keifer will look at his son. 2023 www.indystar.com. Keifer Sykes was born in Chicago, Illinois. For Sykes, whos been giving back for years, that was the norm. "I know she's probably gonna cry (when I talk to her) because it's bringing tears to my eyes right now," Sykes said, his voice cracking. Moreover, Sykes graduated from there with a degree in Communications. The best rebounder in college basketball, perhaps the most intimidating player in the sport, is a father. 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.. I cant do that. in the Turkish TBL, posting 22.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Keifer Sykes was clutch in the fourth quarter for Boeheim's Army. Like Sykes, he's a senior NBA prospect. Sykes was still at Wisconsin Green-Bay when the shooting happened and came to visit Harrington shortly afterward. It made my heart weep in joy, not weep in sorrow but in joy that, Wow, he really feels that way about me.. He is at Green Bay because that staff impressed his father. Rotowire Apr 6, 2022. Why is Keifer the father he is? Back home in Chicago, one of Sykes former high school coaches, Shawn Shake Harrington, watched it all unfold in tears. There's too many [coaches] calling me. Discover Keifer Sykes's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. "The milk is spilt all over the place," she recalled saying. Keifer Jerail Sykes, born Dec. 30, 1993, is the last child in his family. "We were a stage for him to perform on. One team has a father who's a leading scorer with a child who attends every home game but did not want to bring extra attention to the player or the program. Sykes was waived by the Pacers on Wednesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports. The two remain close, and Harrington said hes thankful the gun violence that changed his life didnt have the same effect on the player he nicknamed Special K., I just started calling him Special K because I knew that kid had something special about him, Harrington said. He makes sure, no matter what, he keeps a good relationship with his baby's mother. After shining with the Austin Spurs throughout the 2015-16 campaign, Sykes joined the Warriors for the 2016 Summer League, but he wasnt picked up by Golden State or another franchise ahead of the season. I was really on my own and traveling in Chicago for an hour each way each day. He has just one full sibling, James Sykes Jr., and seven more half-siblings: DaVon, Jarvis, Kristie, Jameeka,. [1] The film follows Sykes' path from high school to his brush with the NBA. The unexpected death came a month removed from the end of Keifer's freshman year. Keifer Jerail Sykes (born December 30, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Motor City Cruise of the NBA G League. 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. 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). "So she just told me congratulations. The Pacers waived third-string point guard Brad Wanamaker after his poor playand picked up Sykes mainly as an insurance guard since starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon was sidelined with a sore right Achilles and backup point guard T.J. McConnell is out due to right wrist surgery. The sacrifices she made, man. 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. When he's running around, jumping, having fun, I can't do nothing but laugh. Averyelle was born shortly after the sun came up. That's money which now goes toward feeding their baby boy, Ricardo Darnell Gathers Jr., who came into the world at 4:53 a.m. on June 13, 2014. He'll want to turn to ESPN and watch a basketball game. Nine children from five mothers and two fathers. Sykes said having his contract guaranteed through the end of theseason is "the highlight of my professional career," and he's thrilled that his 6-year-old daughter, Kennedi, and11-year-old son, Keifer Jr., can finally say their daddy is officially in the NBA. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Throughout his career, Sykesrepresentedseveral basketball clubs worldwide like Anyang KGC (Korean Basketball league), Ankara DSI (Turkish Club), Felice Scandone (Italian Club), etc. Nba prospect 's freshman year Sykes get closer to his brush with the NBA issues responsibly through the of... There 's more than $ 5,000 of his own cash allotted toward parenthood at Green because. Plan was always to help Sykes get closer to his dream small part in his Family Shawn Harrington. From ( than ) her because she could n't bear to do I do understand. 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