The Chicago Bulls are in the middle of an important stretch of basketball of their own but are related to another important basketball decision that was made in the City of Chicago. That relation is wing Denzel Valentine, whose brother was announced as the new head coach of Loyola basketball on Tuesday.
Valentine’s brother, Drew Valentine, will be taking over the lead spot for the Loyola program following the departure of Porter Moser. Moser is leaving Loyola to take over the head coaching role at the University of Oklahoma.
More from Pippen Ain't Easy
- The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
- Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
- Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
- Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
- When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know
Drew Valentine takes on the lead spot on the Loyola bench following a four-year stint working as an assistant for Moser. In those years the program saw a new level of success and established itself as a rising basketball program in the midwest.
"“I’m so excited for him. I think he’s ready for it. Coaching is in his blood… He’s born to lead.”"
As Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago shared on Twitter, Denzel also praised Drew’s role in his own basketball development from all the way back when the two were kids. It’s clear Valentine has a number of supporters in his new gig and his brother is another in a long list of notable names showing support to the 29-year-old newly announced Loyola head coach.
While Denzel’s support comes as no surprise given their relationship it offers perspective into Drew’s knowledge of the game and ability to communicate. If he was helping Denzel at such a young age, the sky is the limit for what he can do for the next generation of players coming through the Loyola program.
Given his role on the team the last few years and the amount of success the team has had in that time, it’s safe to assume he has grown even more as both a leader and a coach. One thing is certain, Loyola has a rising star in their new head coach.