Derrick Rose’s back-to-back steals culminating first in a vicious windmill dunk and second in a one-handed, float-through-the-air, tomahawk slam sent the United Center crowd into a frenzy Saturday night.
Even a 13-year NBA veteran like Nick Anderson was thoroughly impressed.
“I had heard all the hype, and you know how people tend to exaggerate,” said Anderson, the former Simeon player who logged time with the Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies. “Hey, I’m a true believer now.”
Rose’s 25 points (11-of-13 shooting), eight assists, seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks sparked No. 3 Simeon (25-4) to a 55-40 victory over No. 4 Washington as the Wolverines won their first Public League title since 1988.
“That kid there (Rose) is unbelievable,” said Anderson, who led Simeon to that ’88 title. “On that windmill dunk, I was glued to my seat.
“If Rose works hard on his ballhandling and his outside shot, he’s destined for the NBA. It’s right there in front of him–how much does he want it? I’ve played against lots of point guards in the league that don’t have his athleticism.”
Washington (23-3) didn’t have much of anything, hitting just 5 of 28 shots in the first half while falling behind 28-13. Simeon’s 5-foot-10-inch Dexter Williams–who guards Rose in practice–limited the Minutemen’s leading scorer, 6-4 Mario Little, to eight points.
Even better than that, 5-11 Randall Hampton’s lockdown defense held Washington’s 6-6 Deandre Liggins–considered by many the top sophomore in the state–scoreless. Another sophomore, Paris Parramore, led Washington with 12 points.
In addition to Saturday night’s highlight-reel dunks, Rose, a junior, came from nowhere to block Parramore’s apparent breakaway layup right after Washington had pulled within 44-30–the closest it got in the second half.
