BAKER — Eighth-grader Octavius “Junior” McLaughlin is at the threshold of his basketball career.
McLaughlin is already a starter for Baker School’s boys basketball team, and the sky seems to be the limit for the talented young player.
“With him practicing against the varsity (this year), we just saw him keep getting better and better,” Gator Coach Janavor Weatherspoon said. “We were just waiting for him to come up to the varsity. We expect him to be a leader for Baker for the next four years.
“He’s a great ball handler; he can score, he’s pretty level-headed. His attitude is really good. He’s just an all-around good player.”
Weatherspoon expects McLaughlin to stay at guard even if he has the typical growth one would expect through his high school career.
“The way he handles the ball we just want him to stay at guard,” he said.
We now catch up with Junior McLaughlin.
How old were you when you started playing basketball?
I was 6.
What's the best part of basketball?
Winning.
What's the worst part of basketball?
Losing.
What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
To give good effort.
If you had to pick a different sport to play, what would it be?
Football, because I love it.
What is your favorite basketball experience?
Winning and making it to district finals.
What are your hobbies outside basketball?
Football or street basketball.
What's your dream career?
I want to play pro football.
Do you want to play college basketball?
I want to play football at Alabama because of Nick Saban.
What is your favorite movie?
“The Blind Side.”
Who is your favorite singer?
RET ONE TDE
If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be?
A Ninja Turtle, because they’ve got super power.
If you could live in any other period in history, which one would you choose?
I’d go back two years, because that was fun.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 13 things you didn't know about Baker's Junior McLaughlin