“Our game against Lane Tech is where I earned my stripes,” said Franklin. “ I was Jones’ 7th man in the rotation but that wasn’t good enough.”įranklin said in spite of facing challenges during his sophomore season, it was a game against Lane Tech that really propelled his game. “I had to prove myself because I was 2-3 years younger than everybody else ,” Franklin said. Franklin said he was known for producing straight A’s in the classroom. Years following his days as a basketball player at Amundsen Park, Franklin said he also attended an elementary school on Chicago’s West Side, Skinner West.ĭuring his time at Skinner West, Franklin said his main goal was to focus on academics along with basketball. “It was my welcome to Chicago basketball ,” Franklin said. But once he got older, Franklin said the same gym where he grew up watching older guys play would be the same gym where he earned his stripes as a player.Īnd due to Franklin’s great play at the gym, he earned the nickname “Rondo.” I remember countless hours in that gym working.”įranklin said growing up, he spent most of his time in the gym watching older guys play because he was too young to participate. Growing up on the West Side of Chicago I played in a league called YDL (Youth Development League) at Amundsen Park. “From as early as I can remember, there has always been a basketball in my hand.

“My earliest memories of life stem from my love for the sport,” said Franklin in an interview with the Crusader.

With the IHSA basketball season around the corner, Franklin, a tough basketball player from Chicago’s West Side, said his love for the game of basket ball stems from his days as a child. Known for his solid point guard play in the Chicago Public League White-West Conference, senior Romell Franklin, Jr., said he is looking forward to having an impact on the 2021-22 Jones College Prep IHSA basketball roster.

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