Chris Cenac Jr, a senior in high school, boasts an impressive résumé. He is a Louisiana high school state champion, a gold medalist with the USAB U17 Team, the number one player in Louisiana, a five-star recruit, and the NBPA Top 100 Camp MVP. Over the past year, he has risen in the rankings to be comfortably placed among the top 10 players.
The last year has been filled with camps, tournaments, events, and showcasing his skills in clinics. The recognition he has received is well-deserved. Chris explains, “It’s just kind of recent, like my freshman, sophomore year. I realized that I loved basketball once I shot out my sophomore year and I just kept wanting to play. Most people stop and quit, but I kept going, worked harder, and it motivated me.”
Standing at 6-10, Chris has always been one of the tallest among his peers. It was during his freshman season at Riverside Academy that he started building towards his future. With his trainer and coach James Parlow, he honed the skills that define him today. Chris reflects, “I feel like every year I got two times better than where I was the year before, which is the goal. Just development. A lot of skill work, working on having a lot of skills.”
Despite facing challenges like sitting out his sophomore season after transferring to Isidore Newman School, Chris remained focused on his goals. His dedication paid off as he led his team to their third consecutive state title in the following season before moving on to Link Academy in Missouri.
At Link Academy, Chris is making the most of every opportunity and taking on a leadership role. He aims to win a national championship with his teammates and continue his journey towards his ultimate goal of a successful NBA career.
While his accomplishments are commendable, Chris remains driven to climb higher and achieve his long-term aspirations. As he says, “It feels good, but at the same time, it’s not the only place that I want to be at. The NBA, and lasting in the NBA for a long time, is the main goal. I can’t be complacent.”
Photos via Getty Images. Portrait by Marcus Stevens.
