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Englewood Hopes Bulls Pick Native Son Rose

CHICAGO (CBS) ― The pride of the Englewood community could be headed to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have the first pick in the NBA Draft tonight, and conventional wisdom is that they will pick Derrick Rose – graduate of Simeon High.

CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker takes us back to the neighborhood where Rose got his start.

The basketball court at Murray Park in the heart of one of the most violent neighborhoods in Chicago is where the nation's number one NBA draft pick, Derrick Rose, made a name for himself -- at the ripe old age of 8.

"He used to come out here and play with us and we were like 20," said neighbor David Peterson. "He could shoot the ball, pass it, everything."

By 11, this rising basketball star was already winning city championships for his grade school team - the Randolph Rockets. Anthony Smith was the coach.

"We're so proud of this kid because he stayed focused," Smith said.

Coach Smith credits Derrick's mother with keeping him focused. She was a single mom raising four boys in rented houses around the corner from the park. Derrick was the youngest.

"She made sure her boys didn't get caught up in nothing," Smith said. "He had to ignore the drugs, fighting and shooting."

Derrick attended Simeon High School, leading the Wolverines to two state championships, in 2006 and 2007.

Tim Flowers was also on that winning team. He says dedication is another quality that makes Derrick so successful.

"Derrick was one of those people, when others didn't want to practice, Derrick gave 110 percent," Flowers said. "He worked so hard on his body. He worked so hard on his game."

That hard work has paid off. Tonight Derrick will find out which NBA team he will play for. Everyone in Englewood is rooting for the Bulls.

"It'll be great for the team and great for the community," said Simeon Coach Robert Smith. "Kids will know someone from here can do great things."

Tonight, the West Englewood community will gather to watch the NBA draft to see if the Bulls pick Derrick.

You can join some of Derrick's old friends at Murray Park, which is at 73rd and Woods Street.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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