Moving into the starting lineup, Jaydon Watts scores for Crete-Monee. But there's more. ‘That isn't everything.'
As the youngest of five basketball-playing brothers, Crete-Monee's Jaydon Watts has a chip on his shoulder. It comes from years of being the little guy getting beat up on the court.
It all made Watts, a senior guard, even stronger. And he sure learned a lot.
'I'm always battling and I'm always fighting because I'm used to doing that,' Watts said. 'You've just got to live and learn. From my brothers, I learned how to be a leader, how to do the right thing and be a better person.'
Watts' leadership has been vital for the Warriors. He often comes off the bench as the team's sixth man, but he got the start Wednesday night and scored 11 points to spark Crete-Monee to a 77-38 win over Evergreen Park in a Class 3A Hillcrest Regional semifinal in Country Club Hills.
Watts added eight rebounds and Jaylen Blakes scored 21 points to lead the fifth-seeded Warriors (19-12). Zyheir Gardner and Jayden Preston added nine points apiece, while Uriel Chapman chipped in with six.
Crete-Monee will take on fourth-seeded Hillcrest (20-10), which beat Oak Forest 63-50, at 6 p.m. Friday in the regional final.
Lenear Bolden scored 12 points, Keshaun Vaval added 11 points and Camryn Dandridge finished with eight points and 10 rebounds for 12th-seeded Evergreen Park (14-17).
All of Jaydon's brothers, including Enos, Nick and Emmanuel along with Joel, graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor, although Joel started his career at St. Rita.
'It was just meant to be for me,' Jaydon said of ending up at Crete-Monee. 'I watched all my brothers play at H-F and I started playing basketball when I was 3 years old.
'My parents just put the ball in my hand and I had to figure out what to do with it.'
Watts, meanwhile, wasn't the only member of his family playing in the postseason Wednesday.
Joel, the second-youngest of the Watts brothers, scored 11 points for Concordia Chicago in an 82-68 loss to Concordia Wisconsin in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament game.
Jaydon is hoping to follow Joel's path to college basketball, but his high school journey has been different.
On Wednesday night, Watts scored eight quick points in the first quarter. It was the kind of spark he typically provides off the bench and was exactly what Crete-Monee coach Jawan Nelson was looking for.
'Jaydon is one of our best scorers,' Nelson said. 'That's why I've been having him come off the bench, but I had to start him this game because we've been struggling getting those points.
'We scored the most points we've scored all year and he was a big part of it.'
Watts, though, has been focused on doing more to help his team than just make 3-pointers. His eight rebounds were a major source of pride.
'It's senior year,' Watts said. 'Shooting and scoring the ball, that isn't everything. We all have to contribute across the court.'
Blakes, who transferred to Crete-Monee from T.F. North, has spent just one season with Watts. But he has certainly felt his impact.
'I've seen Watts grow a lot as more than a basketball player,' Blakes said. 'I've seen him grow as a person, as a captain and especially as a team leader. He's a person that we really lean on.'
Up 36-24 at halftime, the Warriors dominated the second half, holding Evergreen Park to 14 points, including just three in the fourth quarter.
Now, they get their rematch with Hillcrest, which beat Crete-Monee 55-50 in a Big Dipper quarterfinal on Dec. 27.
Watts is ready. And he's hungrier than ever.
'You have to get uncomfortable with your weaknesses,' Watts said. 'That's always going to help you get better in the long run. I felt like my weakness in the past was just the want to win.
'I feel like I've really got that now.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Blockbuster 3-Team Trade Idea Featuring Lakers, Warriors, Nets, And 6 Players, Including Kuminga And Claxton
Blockbuster 3-Team Trade Idea Featuring Lakers, Warriors, Nets, And 6 Players, Including Kuminga And Claxton originally appeared on Fadeaway World. We have an idea that could be regarded as NBA chess, and this isn't your routine salary-cap dump. We're talking about a blockbuster three‑team deal that reshapes roles, timelines, and rosters across L.A., Golden State, and Brooklyn. Advertisement After all, the Los Angeles Lakers need some new pieces to pair around Luka Doncic and LeBron James, with their championship window closing around The King, while the Golden State Warriors also need fresh faces with their title window close to being shut. These are two title-contending teams that need to make moves, while the Brooklyn Nets are clearly heading for a rebuild. Proposed Trade Details Los Angeles Lakers: Nic Claxton, Jonathan Kuminga Golden State Warriors: Dorian Finney-Smith, Dalton Knecht, 2025 No. 55 Overall Pick Brooklyn Nets: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, 2031 First-Round Pick The Lakers finally land a two-way rim protector in Nic Claxton and high-upside athletic wing Jonathan Kuminga, two players with star potential. The Warriors wrangle Dorian Finney‑Smith's defensive toughness and Dalton Knecht's scoring upside, plus a late first-rounder to sweeten the pot. Advertisement Meanwhile, Brooklyn pulls off the coup: Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt shore up their own rebuild while snagging a juicy 2031 Lakers lottery pick. Six players, three teams, infinite ripple effects. Let's break it down and then enjoy the fallout, because this deal could work for all sides involved, especially the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles Lakers Create A New And Dominant Starting Lineup Nic Claxton brings the rim protection the Lakers have been craving. Averaging 10.3 PPG and 7.4 rebounds per game in Brooklyn's season last year, Claxton changes the entire defensive mindset. His four-year, $100 million contract extension locks him in at a team-friendly cap hit, making him a long-term anchor in L.A.'s frontcourt . Advertisement Jonathan Kuminga offers explosive athleticism and a two-way skill set to complement this roster shift. He surged at times with the Warriors despite not earning Steve Kerr's trust and ended the season averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 30.5% from three on 45.4% from the field. On a modest salary ($7.6M in 2024–25 with a $10,240,287 qualifying offer next year), Kuminga fits financially and brings the upside to grow alongside the Lakers' goals. Pairing Claxton with Kuminga keeps the Lakers flexible enough to chase additional scoring or playmakers, especially with LeBron's impending retirement creating room over the next few seasons. This lineup transforms L.A. into one of the most modern two-way starting fives in the league, built to support superstars while maintaining long-term cap health. Golden State Warriors Add A Perimeter Defender And Sharpshooter Dorian Finney-Smith brings an elite 3-and-D presence after a solid 2024–25 campaign: 8.7 PPG, 41.1% from 3, and lockdown defense across 63 games. With a $15.4M player option for next season, he isn't a cap drag but supplies the length and discipline the Warriors need on Curry's off-ball corner and guarding versatile wings. Advertisement The rookie Dalton Knecht, the 17th overall pick, showed he can heat up fast, dropping a 37-point game with nine threes early in the season, and shot 37.6% from deep, translating to early NBA flashes. Still a developing perimeter scorer with potential playmaking upside, Knecht offers scoring burst off the bench and an affordable contract slot. Adding the No. 55 pick in 2025 gives Golden State a low-cost lotto ticket, likely a developmental wing or two-way sharpshooter. Combined with Finney-Smith's immediate impact and Knecht's budding promise, the Warriors take a balanced swing: veteran stability, scoring depth, and draft flexibility to keep their championship window open while staying under the luxury threshold. Brooklyn Nets Gain Young Assets And A Valuable First-Round Pick Rui Hachimura brings 13.1 PPG floor-spacing think: 41.3% from three on a mid-$18M contract next season, pushing Brooklyn's offensive versatility across wings and forward roles. He complements Claxton inside by occupying opposing bigs beyond the arc without locking up cap space long-term. Advertisement Jarred Vanderbilt adds gritty energy with 5.1 RPG, 48.8% FG in 16.1 MPG, and his contract ($11.6M and $12.4M over the next two seasons) speaks to Brooklyn's confidence in his role-defining toughness. Vanderbilt's hustle and defensive versatility shore up bench depth and help maintain the Nets' identity during this roster rebuild. It's simple: a Lakers' 2031 first-round pick is pure currency. Whether Brooklyn emerges as a contender or tumbles, that future asset gives them leverage to take on contracts or chase value in a deep draft class. It's the type of long-term thinking that reshapes a franchise, not just shuffle rotations. A Blockbuster 3-Team Trade That Gives Every Team What They Need This deal is a masterclass in roster architecture. The Lakers land Nic Claxton, a proven rim protector $100 million deal that becomes more cap-friendly over time. He fills the defensive void left by Anthony Davis's exit and immediately upgrades interior defense. On top of that, Jonathan Kuminga, cost-controlled and athletic, brings playmaking upside, making L.A.'s starting lineup both dynamic and defensively sound. Advertisement The Warriors get their perimeter upgrade in Dorian Finney‑Smith, a cagey defender and reliable shooter (consistent 40% shooter from three on a reasonable $15 million deal). Pairing that with Dalton Knecht, a rookie sharpshooter with deep-range upside, plus a late first-round pick, gives Golden State both immediate glue and developmental runway without jeopardizing cap or future flexibility. And for the Nets, this game-changing 2031 Lakers first-rounder is future currency, while Rui Hachimura ($17M salary) and Jarred Vanderbilt (energetic wing on a mid-level contract) immediately bolster their core. They're selling expiring assets for long-term upside, fitting a rebuild without losing potential. Related: Wild 3-Team Trade Proposal: Kevin Durant, Center, And Guard To Lakers; Suns Get 7 Players And 4 Picks This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
No Origin stars, no worries; Panthers in boilover win
An undermanned Penrith have secured a critical 28-18 victory over the high-flying Warriors despite missing their swag of State of Origin stars. The Panthers arrived in Auckland without five stars including Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo due to the travel factor from Origin II in Perth to New Zealand. But the rookie outfit shocked the third-ranked hosts in their Saturday clash to bank a third straight win and continue their climb up the NRL ladder. Depending on results the defending premiers could finish inside the top eight at the end of the round for the first time since Las Vegas in the opening round. Winning seven of their past eight matches, the Warriors were expected to outclass Penrith but the Panthers' young halves Blaize Talagi and Brad Schneider stood up to steer the visitors home. Talagi won't be stopped 🔥 #NRLWarriorsPanthers Telstra Moment of the Match. — NRL (@NRL) June 21, 2025 With Moses Leota leading the way up front with 147 run metres, second rower Scott Sorensen also stood tall, scoring two of their five tries. The Warriors weren't helped by losing Marata Niukore to a head knock 10 minutes into the match and then winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury. Sorensen went on report for the tackle that ended Watene-Zelezniak's night. Trailing 6-8 at halftime, the Warriors' hopes of a big finish were also hobbled as halfback Luke Metcalf struggled with a quad injury. The Panthers started with a bang with Sorensen held up over the line early but they made no mistake in the 16th minute when centre Casey McLean found winger Tom Jenkins, who bagged a hat-trick last week. In a pulsating contest the Warriors soon levelled with a ball bouncing up for Jackson Ford after Leka Halasima skittled Penrith players leaping for a Metcalf bomb. Sorensen again put his team ahead, scoring his first try with three minutes remaining in the half. The Warriors edged ahead soon after the break through Jacob Laban but the full house at Go Media Stadium had little to cheer about until a 78th minute consolation try by Moala Graham-Taufa. In the meantime, the Panthers piled on a further three tries, with Talagi and winger Paul Alamoti getting in on the action, to seal the win.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Congratulations Are Pouring In For Steve Kerr's Family
Congratulations Are Pouring In For Steve Kerr's Family originally appeared on The Spun. Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors didn't wait long to make changes to their coaching staff. Obviously, the Warriors won't be moving on from Kerr. He's coming off yet another season where he led the franchise to the playoffs. Unfortunately for Golden State, its chances of winning an NBA title were destroyed the moment Steph Curry suffered an injury in the Western Conference semifinals. Advertisement So what changes will be made to Golden State's coaching staff? On Thursday afternoon, the Warriors announced that Kerr is adding a familiar face to bench for the 2025-26 season. Kerr's son, Nicholas, has been promoted to the Warriors after spending the past two seasons coaching their G League team in Santa Cruz. Immediately after this news was confirmed by the Warriors, fans congratulated the Kerr family on this awesome father-son accomplishment. "Congratulations to Steve Kerr's son," one fan commented. "Warriors have the best farm system in the NBA by far when it comes to their coaching staff and trainers," a second fan wrote. Advertisement "Congratulations to my guy, Nicholas Kerr," a third fan added. "Kerr's son might be next head coach in the future," another fan said. SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings during the In-Season Tournament on November 28, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)Nicholas Kerr, 32, went 20-14 in the G League each of the past two seasons. Prior to becoming the head coach of Santa Cruz, he was part of the development department for the Warriors. He was also a video coordinator for three seasons. As for Steve Kerr, he's been the head coach of the Warriors since the 2014-15 season. We'll see if this father-son duo can lead the Warriors back to the NBA Finals. Related: Sports Fans React To Stephen A. Smith's Daughter's ESPN Debut Congratulations Are Pouring In For Steve Kerr's Family first appeared on The Spun on Jun 20, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
