Suburban Life Athlete of the Week: Marquel Saleek, Willowbrook, basketball, senior

Name: Marquel Saleek

School: Willowbrook, senior

Sport: Basketball

Why he was selected: Saleek had a triple-double with 29 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in an 88-69 win over St. Charles East and scored 26 points in a 75-60 loss to Proviso East in the championship game of the St. Charles East Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament. Saleek was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.

Saleek was voted by readers as the Suburban Life Athlete of the Week. Here is his interview with Sports Editor Joshua Welge.

Welge: How did you feel about the team’s first week of the season?

Saleek: I feel like we learned a lot. Even in the first game, we were down and then we came back. It was a learning lesson. We have guys who had never played on the varsity level or a big stage like a championship game. I feel like in a loss like we had, you gain more knowledge. Monday was a hard practice, we locked in, I feel like it might not have been the same had we lost. We were more focused than usual.

Welge: I heard that Proviso game was pretty intense. What did you learn about your team in that game?

Saleek: I feel like we have the ability to win those types of games. It made us realize some of the errors that we need to correct. We have the ability to make shots and the ability to dribble the ball, but when things speed up and get intense, we have to learn how to play in that kind of game. I would rather that it be earlier in the year rather than later in the year.

Welge: Did you realize you were close to a triple-double against St. Charles East?

Saleek: I’m a winner, I play to win. I’m just doing whatever my team needs me to do to win. I never go into a game looking for stats. When I found out I had a triple-double, it was kind of crazy. I’m only 6-foot-1, 6-2. It’s rare for 6-10 guys to get double-digit rebounds. For a guy like me, I’m a little over 6-foot, it’s crazier. I get rebounds naturally. I do whatever my team needs me to do. It was crazy, though. I thought my coach was lying when he told me.

Welge: Willowbrook has had some pretty good guards in recent years such as Everett Stubblefield and Alonzo Verge. Are you looking to try to follow those guys?

Saleek: Everett, we’re close, we’re friends, I would play against him growing up. Alonzo Verge is a little more distant in our age. We didn’t live in the neighborhood at the time he was playing here, but everybody knew about him to this day. I would watch the old games. Growing up with Evan, I take some of his moves and certain things he does.

Welge: Who are some favorite players you like to watch?

Saleek: My favorite player is probably Ja Morant or Chris Paul. Ja, he’s quick, in high school he was under the radar on some levels. I feel I have the same type of story. Chris Paul is probably the smartest player that’s ever played basketball.