Whiz Kid: Javier Duren

This week’s Whiz Kid is Javier Duren, who recently signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the esteemed Yale University. Duren has played starting point guard for Oakville’s Varsity team all four years of high school. He entertained offers from Missouri State, Wichita, Georgetown and Loyola-Chicago, but ultimately decided on Yale, because the school offers the best opportunity for him to get a high-caliber education and play basketball at the same time.

Whiz Kid: Javier Duren

Whiz Kid’s Age: 17 years old

Whiz Kid’s School: Oakville Senior High

Whiz Kid’s Year in School: Senior

Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Got accepted to play basketball at Yale University.

Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Javier Duren started his pursuit of excellence at around age 3, when he picked up his first basketball. Since then, Duren has dedicated countless hours to improving his game, practicing four days in the offseason alone. Despite his love for the game, Duren stresses the need to have other interests as well.

“I don’t want to be one-dimensional,” Duren said.

Duren has taken his oath seriously, joining several clubs at school including Key Club, Spanish Club and Accounting Club, of which he is the treasurer. Of course, all of this comes second to his academics.

“It’s every kid’s dream to play professionally and make a living at it. But I know that may not happen ... so Yale offers a backup in the form of academics,” Duren said.

He plans to study economics, with the intent to give back to others and help as many people as possible.