![\"Cruz1\"](\"http:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/02\/Cruz1-300x217.jpg\")
His words, unexpected and brash, wasn\u2019t typical from someone who had played little organized basketball until he was 13.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a young man comes with that statement, it\u2019s a way of trying to be an icebreaker and gravitate to a coach,\u201d Williams recalled of the encounter.<\/p>\n
Within a year, the 6-foot-3 point guard had become a starter and led Von Steuben to a 19-6 record, while being selected to the Chicago Public League all-conference team as a sophomore.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very impressed with him as a freshman, but I had elected to him playing up a level,\u201d Williams said. \u201cHe was showing me some promise, and I thought I might have something here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since that breakout season, Cruz has earned two more all-conference selections, been named MVP of the Red-North division and twice earned all-city team honors.<\/p>\n
Cruz took an unorthodox path to basketball despite living in the basketball frenzy that is Chicago. Born and raised in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side, Cruz played baseball in the Roberto Clemente Little League organization with little knowledge about basketball outside of local pickup games.<\/p>\n
But Cruz soon encountered a problem with baseball. He was bored.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t control the game,\u201d he said. \u201cI only went to bat four times a game.\u201d<\/p>\n
He began to gravitate away from baseball in search of a new competitive outlet. It wasn\u2019t long before his father, Rafael Cruz Sr., noticed the way basketball consumed his son.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the [little league] game, he\u2019d go over to the [basketball] courts right off Augusta and shoot right there in his cleats and [baseball] uniform,\u201d the elder Cruz said.<\/p>\n
In a community surrounded by gang activity and gun violence, there were times where a safe place to play basketball became hard to find.<\/p>\n
Cruz Sr. ambles over to the living room mantle as he knocks dust off of his son\u2019s baseball trophies and rearranged the awards. He remembered a moment when he feared for \u201cLil Ralphies\u201d life. As Rafael Sr. sat outside his house, gunshots pierced the air. Without hesitation, the father sprinted towards Kedvale Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was scared to death,\u201d said Cruz Sr. \u201cNot for the gunshots, but for my son because he was that park in the spot where the shots were coming from.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rafael Jr. said the sounds of gunshots was only a momentary deterrent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d wait around for 30 minutes and head back up there,\u201d he said. \u201cWe knew the guys shooting would be gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless of the risk, the younger Cruz was determined to go back and play.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was an argument with him all the time,\u201d Cruz Sr. said. \u201cHe had the attitude that he was going back over there anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cruz\u2019s father used an old-school basketball classic to keep his son away from the shootings: milk crates. He cut out the bottom of the crate to replicate a basketball hoop and nailed it to a telephone pole in the alley so Rafael Jr. could shoot around with his friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would keep him away from that [violent] environment,\u201d Cruz Sr. said.<\/p>\n
Although the crate occupied Rafael Jr., he soon found other means to get back to the local basketball courts to the real competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d send him to the store and he\u2019d take forever,\u201d said his mother, Rose Demarrias. \u201cWe knew he was back at that park.\u201d<\/p>\n
At that time, it may have seemed like rebellion, but Cruz only wanted to compete. He looked at his environment and wanted a way to get out.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see families struggle, mom\u2019s crying on their front porch because they can\u2019t afford their bill and the eviction notice is on their door,\u201d he said. \u201cThat really shows you that you have to take this [basketball] somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Rafael Jr., high school basketball can\u2019t be the end. As his pride-filled parents look at him, he shakes\u00a0his head looking down at the floor in disappointment. In this, his final season at Von Steuben, the team is 4-17, far below preseason expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lose a game, but you have to look at the overall aspect,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re just trying to get out, get that scholarship, that education and get a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n
Demarrias still can\u2019t help herself. Grinning from ear-to-ear, she asks her son about\u00a0his\u00a0next step.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to play D-1 college basketball,\u201d he said staring straight ahead. \u201cI know I\u2019m that caliber of player.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Karl Bullock As a scrawny 15-year-old freshman in 2013, Rafael Cruz Jr. sauntered up to Von Steuben basketball coach Marvin Williams with confidence. \u201cI told him I was going to play varsity, and he just laughed at me,\u201d Cruz said as he stretched his arms out on his living room couch with a slight […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":386,"featured_media":51731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,3516],"tags":[597,3609,270,1439,3725,3606,3731],"class_list":["post-51621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","category-winter-2017","tag-basketball","tag-chicago-public-league","tag-chicago-public-schools","tag-high-school-basketball","tag-red-north","tag-von-steuben","tag-von-steuben-high-school-basketball"],"yoast_head":"\n