Labaron Philon spent Saturday back where his basketball story started, inside the gym at Baker High School, giving the next generation a look at what chasing a big dream can actually look like.
The first-round NBA draft pick returned home for the Philon Skillz Camp, the same place he first walked into as a rising high school freshman with pro basketball in his sights. Six years later, Philon is in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he’s now teammates with LeBron James, Jalen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxie.
For Philon, the point of the visit was simple: let the kids know the path is real.
“I want everyone to know their dreams can come true,” the first-round NBA draft pick said. “I came out of Mobile and made it, so you can, too. But you have to be a professional in everything you do.”
That idea of professionalism was planted early at Baker by head coach David Armstrong, who is helping with the two-day camp this weekend. Armstrong said he saw Philon’s potential quickly and made sure the young guard understood that talent alone wouldn’t be enough.
“I knew pretty quickly how good he could be, so I started trying to treat him like he was going to be special,” Armstrong said. “I wanted to make sure he knew that if he wanted to do this for a career it was going to be more than being just an ordinary high school student and basketball player.
“He was held to a standard and made sure he did everything the right way. He learned how to be a leader. So, it’s great for these kids to be around him and see what kind of person and worker he is.”
Philon’s rise has been steady. He was the No. 22 overall pick in the most recent NBA Draft after two seasons at Alabama, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. The 76ers added Brown and James after Philon was drafted.
Now he’s adjusting to life in the league and says the star power around him has already started to feel normal.
“I’ve met LeBron before from being around his kids at basketball tournaments,” Philon said. “Being in the NBA, first of all, was a dream of mine.
But to be able to play with a lot of superstars was second on my list. I’m just embracing it and learning from what they’ve been through and what they have to teach me.”
He also said the move to Philadelphia has gone smoothly.
“I live in Philly and the people there are already showing me love everywhere I go,” Philon said. “My role on the team is going to be really simple.
I don’t have to do as much. We’ve got a lot of great guys.
I just have to be me and make the right basketball plays.”
The Philon Skillz Camp continues Sunday for campers ages 6-12.
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