Rondae Jefferson. Sometimes you forget he’s just a kid.

“Who is this tall kid walking down the street on the cell phone carrying books under his arm at 9 in the morning?”

That’s what I said to myself as I sat chilling on my front porch on June 6 (I remember that date only because they cut off our water to start water main work).

When I recognized it was Rondae, we said hello to each other and he continued on.

With all his celebrity, I was caught off guard seeing him look like a typical kid. My mind goes back to when LeBron James was going into his senior year of high school and the big flack was that he had just received a Hummer to drive around in. 

By contrast, seeing Rondae walking down the street alone carrying his own books was an eye opener. 

I just happened to be back on the porch hours later when he was walking back, this time not on the phone. I called him over and we talked for a few minutes about his summer plans and he told me he was heading back to Colorado Springs real soon for USA Team tryouts. I told him that I was confident he’d make the team.

I had a unique team photo from last year’s state championship team that was only collecting dust on my book shelf. I offered it to him as a gift and the biggest boyish smile came across his face. (I doubt if the gift qualifies as a NCAA violation).

Rondae Jefferson may be a special talent, but he’s still just a big kid at heart. 

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