Meet Kellen Simpson

When it comes to leadership, there are those who step forward, those who remain in line and those who retreat. But even the willing, those separating themselves from the others and desiring to take on a position of primacy, come with a caveat. Can they provide intelligent direction and facilitate an all-for-one, one-for-all mindset?

Such is what Kellen Simpson demonstrates on the basketball court. Points don't matter to him, except the final score. The goal of the Team Sage and Sacramento High junior is "to do whatever it takes to win."

At 6-foot-1, 160 pounds, the 2014-er handles the point. Very matter-of-factly, he offers, "I act like a coach on the floor. I've always been a leader."

Asked his best skills, he responded, "My court vision, ballhandling and passing ability. I have a feel where teammates are on the court and where they are going to move. Plus, my leadership under pressure."

One fascinating aspect of his physical evolution is he stood 5-foot-3, 5-foot-4 as a freshman. What his ultimate height was and still is going to be was anyone's guess.

Regardless, it was always hoops for him -- "I just love basketball, I had no interest in playing other sports."

Part of that could be because his father, Wornel, was a baller plus a certain relationship. "My godbrother is Jared Cunningham who played with the Oakland Rebels." Plus Oregon State and now the Dallas Mavericks.

As for eventually moving on to the next level, Simpson said, "I've  always had that dream. This summer, we were playing at City College of San Francisco in front of a lot of coaches and it really motivated me."

When he received a handwritten letter from Cal Poly, well, that solidified the sense that a scholarship was indeed in reach.

Regarding recruiting, he explained "staying in California or on the West Coast would be great but any offer is a blessing."

To a query about possible majors in college, Simpson said, "business financial management." The proclivity for being in charge extends beyond the court. That and because his father works in finance.

Academically, Simpson sports a 3.4 grade point average.

As for his best moment to date -- "We were playing the Nor Cal Warriors Black 17s at City College and it was a tight game. I played okay, not great, but I made free throws at the end to win the game."

There's that pressure thing again.