Before the Findlay Prep boys basketball squad set off for the 2009 National High School Invitational, Michael Peck wanted to prepare this team for the most important tournament of the year. He organized a team of veterans, including former pros, to scrimmage his players, show them the ropes, and get them ready for the long road ahead.

Most high schoolers would have been intimidated, but not Avery Bradley. Spotting an opportunity on a fast break, Bradley made his presence felt by throwing down a dunk in transition.

The vets tried to repay the favor on the inbounds. They quickly lobbed the ball to Jerome Williams, a 6-9 forward who earned the nickname “Junkyard Dog” for his gritty style of play as a Piston. Williams caught the ball at half court and raced toward the basket without a defender in sight. As he went up for an easy layup, the 6-2 Bradley flew down the court and rejected Williams.

“Out of nowhere, after dunking, comes Avery and he just swats it,” recalled Peck. “Swats it right out of bounds. I turned around to our staff and the other guys on the bench and said, ‘That kid’s ready to win a championship.’”

Peck was right. Bradley and his team dominated the tournament, defeating Oak Hill Academy for the title. Bradley scored 20 points in the championship game, earned MVP honors for his performance, and led Findlay Prep to a 33-0 record.

WORKING HIS WAY UP

Years before Bradley was a standout at Findlay Prep in Nevada, he was a newcomer to Tacoma, Washington. Bradley and his family had moved up north from Texas during middle school, and he wanted to play ball.

Bradley was placed on an AAU squad where he met Abdul Gaddy. Gaddy was a standout on the team and immediately recognized the new talent. They became a power tandem … and best friends. 


“He’s a great kid, humble, works hard,” said Gaddy, now a sophomore on the University of Washington basketball team and member of the Team USA U-18 squad.

“He’s like a freak of nature athletically. He’s always been like that since he was little. We’d be working out all the time, running in the hills, and everything just came easy for him athletically. He doesn’t really talk much, he’s real quiet, he’s laidback, and he’s real respectful. He has a great family and I think he’s just a real good kid. I think that’s why we became best friends.”


The duo was dubbed “Fire and Ice” -- “We’re kind of opposites on the court but we complement each other,” Gaddy explained. Amid their differences, they served as one another’s biggest support and toughest competition.

Bradley and Gaddy played countless pickup games at the Westridge Apartments. They often ignored the score, lost track of time, and simply played until they had exhausted all of their energy.

Their AAU coach had them duel in one-on-one battles. He recognized their competitive edge and knew they would push each other. The games, which began in the ninth grade and lasted through college, are some of Gaddy’s favorite memories.


“It worked,” he said. “We used to end up fighting at the end, but at the end of the day, off the court, we’d be best friends again.”



When it came time for high school, Bradley and Gaddy decided to attend Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma together. Bradley set a school record as a sophomore with 52 points in a single game. In 2008, he transferred to Findlay Prep in Nevada for his senior year.

Like Gaddy, Bradley’s new coach was quickly impressed by his quiet focus and talent.



“He’s like a silent assassin,” said Peck. “He has more of a quiet, reserved demeanor. He’s not a loud, flamboyant personality that’s always creating attention. He’s very business-like, very focused. There’s a seriousness about him because he’s the ultimate competitor.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re racing to the door, if you’re the first one to take the trash out and get back. Any drill, any competition, he’s in it to win it. He’s going to play like it.”



Bradley averaged 19.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.9 steals per game as a senior at Findlay Prep. He garnered national attention that season, including McDonald’s All-American honors, and was named the top high school player in the country by ESPN RISE Magazine. 

Peck recalls Bradley reacting to the number one ranking just like the rest of his individual accomplishments.



“Avery saw it as just another step to where he wanted to be, another step in the process,” he said. “Avery’s been a pro just in how he conducted himself on and off the floor. When he won, he was never too high. When he lost or things weren’t going too well, he was never too low. My perception is, he always acted like you know what? I’m chewing that up and I’m swallowing that. What’s next?”



What came next was college basketball at the University of Texas. Bradley posted 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in his first college season. He also shot 43.2 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range. After a solid freshman campaign, Bradley declared for the NBA Draft. 



Gaddy had just finished up a scrimmage in late June when he rushed to call his best friend. The noise in the background was almost deafening. Bradley had been selected by the Celtics with the 19th overall pick. 



“Oh man, that talk was speechless,” Gaddy recalled. “He couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t believe it. It was just like a dream, for real. We really couldn’t believe it. This was something we had been talking about since we first met each other. So for that to happen, he almost teared up. It was crazy. Now he’s just got to move on and try to play as hard as he can and maintain a long career.”

Now comes the next step in the process, as Peck described. Bradley will miss the beginning of training camp while he recovers from ankle surgery that he underwent in July. That hasn’t kept him from the game, though. He has been spending time at the Celtics’ practice facility during the offseason.

Both Gaddy and Peck believe Bradley has the skills -- on and off the court -- to have a successful NBA career. Gaddy points to his consistent improvement over the years, particularly his jumpshot and overall strength. He believes playing alongside Rajon Rondo will also push Bradley to become better. Peck says one of the biggest reasons for Bradley’s continual progress in his receptiveness to coaching.

“I think it’s going to be great, and here’s why,“ Peck explained. “One, he’s going to work. He’s going to do whatever he’s asked and told to get to where he wants to be. Two, he’s going to be willing and not reluctant to set aside his ego. … He’s very tuned in, learning, wanting to know, wanting to be taught, and get better. He’s a humble guy and he’s going to listen and he’s going to do what he’s told and expected. He’s going to work hard and his time will come.”



The endless pickup games, the record-setting scoring performances, the improbable blocks against former pros, and the national high school championship have all added up to this moment - Bradley’s rookie season in the NBA. 

“It makes sense,” said Gaddy. “We put in a lot of work in the gym and everything. Hard work does play off. If you put the work in, you can get there and I think he’s a prime example of that.”