Meet Ali Faruqbey

This is to put college recruiters on notice. You want a tough guy? East Bay tough? No, make that Chicago tough? Then your mission is to discover 6-foot-1 Ali Faruqbey out of Lakeshow Pump N Run and San Lorenzo High.

On display this weekend at the Nor Cal Spring Showcase, Faruqbey is the Energizer Bunny velociraptor. With a desire to be a coach on the floor and expend on it every ounce of energy he can summon, no one plays harder.

Here's Lakeshow Coach Joe Fuca: "Ali came to the Lakeshow last year in the spring as a two guard. We had Kendall Jackson (signed with Columbia this year) who played point guard for us. Ali began the process of learning how to run a team and lead an all-star team. By the July open period, he was running our top team and spending more minutes at the point than at the shooting guard. He is a tremendous competitor and he really takes his game to the next level with his energy and desire to win. Ali has several colleges that are interested in him -- San Jose State, UC Irvine, St Marys and many others -- as a point guard and they will be watching him this weekend. My favorite Ali moment was a few weeks ago when we were down one with six seconds to go against a good IEBP team and Ali drove the lane and scored at the buzzer for the win. He currently has offers from Sonoma State and Hope University."

Sure, like 100% of all prospects, Faruqbey needs tweaks to his game like tightening his handle and improving the consistency of his jumper but that's do-able. Improvement in mindset and effort is hit-and-miss, far more often the latter.

Asked his best skills, Faruqbey focused on tangible but so-called 'soft' talents -- "I'm always working, I have a lot of energy and I'm able to be coached."

His approach to the game is a product of his upbringing.

Proud to be born and bred on the northwest side of Chicago, Faruqbey arrived in the East Bay in 2009. On the playgrounds in the Windy City, "you have to be gritty and physical. You're playing against older guys and it's very competitive." Fellow Chi-town product Derrick Rose is who he aspires to emulate.

Also, being able to play multiple roles increases Faruqbey's attractiveness.

"In high school, there's not as many talented or skilled players, so I had to carry the team but my role with Lakeshow, because the talent is better, is to play the point and run the team."

His best basketball moment?

"It was our first round of NCS when we played Redwood High and won, and we played the game in the name of our former Rebel, Trevion Foster, who died a week before. I just feel like that was an emotional night and we gave every thing we had to win that game."

So where does Faruqbey see himself post-basketball?

"I want to be a teacher," he offered.

It's a choice based on inspiration.

Sounding like one of those vignettes about underappreciated changemakers in life, "I had two great history teachers (at San Lorenzo High) who made me want to learn," Faruqbey explained, so he wants to carry on.

With his prep hoops time coming to a close, Faruqbey wished to thank "my parents, (San Lorenzo) Coach Brandon Parks and (Lakeshow) Coach Fuca. They all played different roles in helping me."