The High School Friends Winning Titles
Before they were stars, Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk rode the school bus together
Later today, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum will partake in a championship parade.
After that, Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk will try to close out the Edmonton Oilers and hoist the Stanley Cup.
Twelve years ago, Tatum and Tkachuk sat next to each other on the school bus heading to classes in the ninth grade at Chaminade College Prepatory School in St. Louis.
Not bad for two high school friends, huh?
Earlier this week, still smelling of champagne after leaving the Celtics locker room, Tatum found a camera to send a message. “Tkachuk,” he said, “Get it done.”
When they first met, Tatum and Tkachuk were quiet, unassuming kids. Michael Derkitz, a former PE teacher, told WCVB News, “The best part about both of them was they're just down-to-earth guys,” he said. “When they played their sport, you could tell they were very good and skilled, but outside of that, they were just one of the guys, one of the students, just both really good kids.”
Even then, they were clearly destined for stardom—at least for the school’s Varsity squads. Derkitz recalled that Tatum seemed to be practicing at the gym at all hours of the day. Tkachuk always had hockey practice—but he had a good backup plan if things didn’t work out on the ice. Said Derkitz, “I remember [Tkachuk] telling his mom one time—I appreciated this as a PE teacher— you know, 'Of course I want to play in the NHL, but if I don't play in the NHL, I could see myself being a PE teacher.’”
Plan A worked out. For both of them. In these NBA Finals, Tatum led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists per game. In the first five games of the Stanley Cup, Tkachuk has 1 goal and 2 assists.
If Tkachuk’s Panthers can finish off the Edmonton Oilers, he and Tatum could join a rare group of childhood friends who have won professional championships in separate sports. LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Clayton Kershaw both pitched for the Highland Park Scots in Dallas. Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell grew up together in Oakland—though neither were considered amongst their high school’s three best athletes. Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and NBA All-Star Antoine Walker also went to school together in Chicago, but McNabb never won a Super Bowl.
So after the revelry of today’s parade in Boston wears down, you can bet that the Celtics’ star will find a quiet moment to watch some hockey, or at the very least, check the scores. To make it this far is incredible.
To make it this far together? What could be better than that?
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