Jason Jordan at USA TODAY HSS has a feature on De'Aaron Fox, a high school basketball phenom out of Katy, TX, and it turns out young Fox draws inspiration and superstition from the Thunder's Russell Westbrook.
Last December, De'Aaron Fox forgot to sport his white headband for a game; Cypress Lakes (Katy, Texas) got the win, but Fox, a point guard who is ranked No. 10 overall in the ESPN 100, played "terrible."
"I couldn't get anything going," Fox recalled. "I learned my lesson after that game. Can't forget my headband."
When the Spartans played the next day, Fox threw on his headband and dropped 50 points in a win.
"I definitely feel like I'm pretty superstitious," Fox said. "After that I never played without my headband. That worked out great."
Until the weekend of April 10 when Fox suited up with Houston Hoops AAU in the first session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League in Hampton, Va.
"Man I had my headband on and just didn't play well at all," Fox said. "After that I had to retire the headband. Haven't worn it since."
Instead he opted for the Russell Westbrook-inspired arm sleeve and leg sleeve for the second session of the EYBL in Lexington, Ky.
The result?
"I got first team all EYBL in Lexington," Fox said. "Russell Westbrook's my favorite player; haven't taken the arm sleeve or leg sleeve off since."
I'm sure Russ would dig it.
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Photo: Mark D. Smith/USA TODAY Sports
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