North Chicago's dynamic duo

North Chicago’s Keith Ford (left) and DeShawn Chambliss form one of the state’s top backcourts.
(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times News Group)

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When Gerald Coleman took over the North Chicago boys basketball program three years ago, he chose two freshmen to join him on varsity.

He had known the two for some time. Both were good students and potential leaders. Both worked hard and possessed immense basketball talent. Coleman was sure someday both would be the cornerstones of his program.

Fast forward, and Coleman couldn’t have been more dead on. Now in their fourth year of varsity, DeShawn Chambliss and Keith Ford have developed into one of Illinois’ most dangerous backcourts while also elevating North Chicago into a state title contender.

“I picked the two of them,” Coleman said. “I wanted them to be the centerpiece of my program. They were the role models to what I wanted my program to be.”

From their start as freshmen, the Warhawks has slowly soared higher and higher with each year. Last season, the duo carried North Chicago to its first sectional championship in nearly 40 years and just short of its first-ever state tournament berth, losing to eventual 3A champion Marshall in a super-sectional at the Sears Centre.

Now back for one final go, Chambliss and Ford, both 6-foot combo guards, are motivated by two goals this season, neither more important than the other. 1) They want to return to the Sears Centre for another shot at Peoria; 1A) They’re out to earn themselves respect.

The first goal is self explanatory. The second needs a more in-depth background.

As sophomores, it was understood that Chambliss and Ford would fly under everyone’s radar. It was the first season the two really began establishing themselves as North Chicago’s marquee backcourt. It would take some time for people to learn their names.

As juniors, they thought the respect would come. Chambliss was showing he was a floor leader and someone who always wanted the ball with the game on the line. Ford was a non-stop motor whether in games or practices and proved he was capable of playing anywhere from the point to the post. They were a year older, a year better and, plus, they were leading North Chicago to one of the state’s best records, only losing four times in the regular season.

Yet, it never arrived.

“We just don’t get respect,” Coleman said. “I got college scouts in here from Kansas, Illinois, Sacramento State, and they can’t believe they’re being overlooked. … It’s to the point where I don’t understand how our team, period, especially in the Chicago media, why they get looked over so much.”

They do have some possible reasons.

For one, they live in North Chicago, not Chicago Chicago.

“I think if we were in the city we’d get the recognition,” Chambliss said. “We went out to the city for a summer league at UIC and were playing the Cranes and beating them. People were asking, ‘Who are these guys? Who are these guys?’ They never heard of us.”

It’s also possible because the Warhawks play in the North Suburban Prairie Conference.

“I think it’s probably because of our schedule,” Coleman said. “They look at the teams we play against. I think that’s what really hurts us.”

While Coleman can’t remove the word North from North Chicago, he has tried to fix the second problem. The Warhawks have already faced Fenwick and St. Patrick, two respectable programs, and still will play in the MLK Shootout at Young, travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face a top team and meet up-and-coming Brooks.

With the opportunities now there, Chambliss and Ford plan on taking advantage of them.

“Our whole mindset is to get respect,” Ford said. “Let people know we’re here, and we’ve been here for three years. We have to play hard. The big-time players in the area, the big-time names, they play hard, they play solid defense. That’s how you make a name for yourself.”

Recruiting analysts Roy and Harv Schmidt believe their time has come.

“Keith Ford and DeShawn Chambliss were without question the driving forces behind North Chicago’s success last season and will be yet again this season,” said the Schmidts in an e-mail. “They are both mentally tough, know what it takes to win and while they play with chips on their shoulders they can usually back it up. … We think that both of them are up to the task and we look for them to have big years.”

Both are focused on doing just that, and they will do it together. Friends since sixth grade at Neal Junior High, the two are nearly inseparable. They live only a few blocks apart. They drive together to and from school. They drive together to and from practice. They eat lunch together. All together, there’s little they don’t do together.

“Me and DeShawn’s relationship is like brothers,” Ford said. “We’ve known each other for so long. We got a brother bond. I call DeShawn my brother. I don’t see him as a friend or anything else. I call him a brother.”

When they’re on the court, Chambliss has another way of explaining that connection.

“I don’t have to look up and know where Keith is going to be,” Chambliss said. “If had to close my eyes and throw him the ball, I think I could do it.”

The two never play 1-on-1. Neither cares to have bragging rights over the other or figure out who’s the better player. They always prefer to be teammates whether it’s 5-on-5 or 2-on-2. While Ford is the only one with a Division I scholarship offer right now – Sacramento State – they have discussed playing together at the next level.

For now, though, they are set on the tasks at hand.

On team bus trips, just like the one last week to St. Patrick’s tournament, Chambliss and Ford sit next to each other. Chambliss is always on the right, Ford always on the left. And as the bus rolls to their destination, the two friends remind each other what’s approaching.

“We tell each other every game is for respect,” Ford said. “We’re playing for respect. Every game we remind each other. We want to leave everything on the floor.”