There was an easy way for Jalen Brunson. Not surprisingly, he picked the other path.
The point guard was the star of an Illinois public high school with no basketball esteem or blue-chip prospects. He battled the prep powerhouses of Chicago, losing as a sophomore to 6-foot-8 Jabari Parker and as a junior to 6-10 Jahlil Okafor, both future top-five NBA picks.
The opposing rosters were built through recruiting, through assurances of winning and national exposure.
Brunson was being pulled to join them.
