(Above are some YouTube highlights of Chris Colvin’s high school career at Chicago’s Whitney Young High School) Everybody, from the fans all the way up to Iowa State’s men’s basketball players are excited for Wednesday night’s showdown with the fifth-ranked Duke Blue Devils, inside of Chicago’s famous United Center.
Iowa State’s freshman point guard Chris Colvin is probably looking forward to the game a little more than the rest though. It was just last year when Colvin led Chicago Whitney Young to an Illinois 4A state championship. One of his teammates at Whitney Young was none other than Michael Jordan’s son, Marcus, who now plays at Central Florida.
So with Wednesday being a homecoming for Colvin on one giant stage, it’s natural for him to scrounge up as many tickets as possible. Colvin told reporters on Monday afternoon that he’d have 20-25 family members and friends at Wednesday’s game. Every player on the team gets four tickets to the event. Obviously, this creates a problem for Chris.
“I’m sure that he racked them all up,” said Craig Brackins about Colvin’s hunt for tickets.
Colvin has played in the United Center before, with the combination of his AAU travels along with high school ball.
“It is pretty exciting to be on the court that one of the greatest players built. It’s another court and we have another game to play,” Colvin said. “It is a hype but when you step on the court, you don’t have to worry about all of that.”
Iowa State played in Chicago earlier this season, when the Cyclones defeated Saint Louis and lost to Northwestern in the Chicago Invitational.
“The first time was pretty sad because we lost,” Colvin said. “We have a chance to go back and play a good Duke team so I am very excited.”
The Blue Devils are now ranked fifth in both the AP and Coaches polls that were released earlier today. Colvin’s Chicago ties do give him one connection to Duke’s roster.
“I have been watching a kid on their team, Jon Scheyer my whole life,” Colvin said. “I am very excited to play him and the Duke program.”
Scheyer, a Duke senior, is a graduate of Glenbrook North.
Colvin has played in all 13 games for Iowa State this season. The freshman is averaging 3.1 points per game. He’s also dished out 28 assists, while averaging 12.9 minutes per game.
