Glenbrook North senior James Karis is one of 10 siblings in a basketball family, and childhood games around the Karis home could sometimes get heated.
“We had a basketball hoop in the front yard and we’d play one-on-one or two-on-two,” Karis said. “Ninety percent of the time, the loser of that game would be thrown into the bushes because of all of the fighting that would go on.
“But we’re family. We’ve always supported each other and that’s where I got my complete identity from. All of my siblings have a competitive nature. My family is a big part of who I am.”
Karis is in his third season as the Spartans’ starting point guard. His brother John played on Glenbrook North’s 2005 Class AA state championship team. His brother Kurt also played at Glenbrook North and now is a preferred walk-on at USC.
The Karis boys got some of their basketball ability from their father, Andrew, who played at Bogan in the 1970s, and James Karis also credits their mother Maria for passing along her athletic genes.
Of course, genetics don’t account for everything and James Karis has put in countless hours learning how to handle a basketball.
“I always loved dribbling and I’ve done it throughout the house basically my whole life,” James Karis said. “My parents would get mad at me because I was always dribbling in the house, while they were trying to eat.”
Glenbrook North coach Dave Weber called James Karis up to the varsity level and put the ball in his hands one month into his sophomore season. James Karis hasn’t given up control of the basketball since.
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The floor leader averaged roughly 12 points and five assists through Glenbrook North’s first 12 games this season.
“He’s vocal and he has a lot to say, and he brings the energy every day,” Weber said of James Karis. “And he’ll take on any challenge. He’s always ready to play. You never feel like it’s a day when he doesn’t have energy.”
The Spartans went 1-3 at the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic tournament, and left Hinsdale with a 7-8 record. Glenbrook North opened the tournament with a 78-45 loss to Bolingbrook, which went on to win tournament and is ranked No. 3 by the baiduhai.
Bolingbrook’s defensive quickness was on display on Dec. 27, but the 5-foot-11 James Karis consistently dribbled around and through the Raiders’ pressure.
“He can break a press,” Weber said. “Compared to anyone else in our team or in our league, he can definitely dribble around and in-between anybody on a press and that’s a great asset to have for a point guard.
“(Bolingbrook) is one of the top teams in the state and he was able to get around those guys and get in the lane and cause problems for them early in that game.”
Bolingbrook’s intensive defensive pressure can make any opposing point guard nervous, but James Karis played with poise throughout.
“You can’t play scared,” James Karis said. “I just come out and play the game I know I can play. I feel like I have the advantage with the ball in those situations because I know where I’m going, and (defenders) don’t.”
James Karis is a natural distributor and his first inclination is to find teammates for open shots. But once he beats a defender, he has a skill that Weber would like to see him utilize more often.
“He’s got one of the best pull-up jump shots I’ve ever seen in high school, from 10 to 15 feet,” Weber said. “It’s a shot no one looks for or takes anymore. Everyone is either shooting 3s or trying to get all the way to the rim.
“He’s a pass-first point guard, which is great, but we want him to score a little more because there are times when he passes up shots, and that pull-up jump shot is the best part of his game.”
James Karis agrees that he needs to better incorporate that shot into his game, and he’s determined to do whatever he can to get the Spartans back on a winning track in the new year.
“We had (two two-game win streaks) and then we lost a few games we should have won,” James Karis said. “We let some games slip, which is frustrating, but I think the second half of the season will be a lot better.
“We know what we have and we’re definitely looking forward to a better second half.”
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press