The last of Sabrina Watson’s three sons to play boys basketball at St. Joseph ended his career with a Class 3A state championship Saturday.
Watson was able to watch from her seat in Section 22 at Carver Arena for both the semifinal and state championship games. When St. Joseph clinched its second state championship (and first since 1999), Watson and many other parents of St. Joseph players moved courtside to record and take pictures of the trophy presentation.
Watson is the mother of senior guard Glynn Watson, who scored a team-high 19 points in St. Joseph’s 67-63 victory over Belleville Althoff.
The championship was particularly sweet for Sabrina Watson because her second son, DeAndre McCamey, sat behind the St. Joseph bench during the state tournament games as St. Joseph’s Freshman B coach.
“It’s great as an older brother to see my younger brother do well and be successful,” McCamey said. “This my first year [as a coach], and it’s great to see these kids become state champions. I’ve seen most of these kids grow.”
McCamey graduated from St. Joseph in 2010. After high school, he played for three college basketball teams — Kaskaskia College in Centralia, South Suburban College in South Holland and Southern Indiana.
His older brother, former Illinois guard Demetri McCamey, graduated from St. Joseph in 2007 and became an All-Big Ten first-team selection as a junior at Illinois. Demetri McCamey could not attend the state tournament because he is playing for the Oita Heat Devils of the Japanese professional basketball league. After playing at Illinois, Demetri McCamey played in the NBA Development League.
“We have all pushed [Glynn Watson] and give him encouragement,” Sabrina Watson said. “We try to have him stay focused on and off the court. We try to stay positive. Demetri Skypes [with] Glynn all the time.”
Demetri and DeAndre McCamey are actually Glynn Watson’s half brothers. Demetri and DeAndre McCamey are the sons of Demetri McCamey Sr. and Sabrina Watson, who never married. Sabrina Watson later married Glynn Watson Sr., and Glynn Watson Jr. is their only child. Glynn Watson Sr. sat next to Sabrina to root for the Chargers at Friday’s state semifinal.
Glynn Watson said he appreciates the support.
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“It’s great having my big brother [there],” Glynn Watson said. “He says he has my back. He helps me with school and off the court. It also helps since he played under coach Pingatore.”
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