Demar DeRozan Rising Above

From RiseMag.com:

Four years ago, Frank DeRozan was going for a walk in his Compton, Calif., neighborhood and spotted six gang members hanging out on a street corner when they should have been in school.

Against his better judgment, DeRozan asked why they weren’t in class. It’s a question that would have gotten most people in trouble.

“One of the kids puffs his chest out at me like he’s going to do something when another says, ‘Fool, don’t you know that’s Debo’s dad?’” Frank says. “All of a sudden, all the kids were like, “How you doing, Mr. DeRozan? We know we’re out here doing stupid stuff, but nobody’s going to mess with Debo. He’s got things to do.’”

He certainly does. Debo, or DeMar DeRozan as he’s known in the basketball community, is one of the nation’s best hoop players. And that talent brings with it protection from the most ruthless elements of Compton. Gang members know DeMar is poised for greatness and therefore leave him and his family alone.

Pretty interesting story on Demar and his life growing up in Compton.