Chris Cenac Jr. already has an above-average resume for a high school senior. USAB U17 team gold medalist. Number one player in the state of Louisiana. A five-star recruit. NBPA Top 100 Camp MVP. And in the past year, he’s climbed all over the rankings, outside the top 50, comfortably topping the top 10.
The last 12 months have been a flurry of camps, tournaments, and his own clinics against offensive threats. And it’s just as recently as my sophomore year that I realized I love basketball sophomore year and just kept wanting to play,” says Chris. “Because most people would just stop and walk away, but I I kept going and working harder and that motivated me.”
The 6-10 center with the bag guard has always been among the tallest among his peers. But it wasn’t until his freshman season at Riverside Academy that Chris built the foundation for the skills we see today : Pick-and-roll-out mids. Handles to create coast-to-coast and others for
“I feel like every year I’ve gotten twice as good as the year before, which is the goal. Just development. A lot of skill work, working on having a lot of skills,” says Chris. “The goal was to be a versatile big that can guard all positions, shoot the ball, take a guy off the dribble, all those kinds of things was, and I worked, got better, and it came to life.”
Although the pieces were falling into place, Chris was forced to sit out his entire sophomore season after transferring to Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. the gap between himself and the top prospects who have been trying to keep up since high school. Be in the gym and catch up with everyonesays Chris.
He entered the summer with a Big Easy-sized chip on his shoulder and led the school to its third straight state title the following season, averaging 13.9 points and 10.2 boards per game in
In a program that has produced the likes of Ja’Kobe Walter, Jordan Walsh and current Texas freshman Tre Johnson, Senak Jr. has taken every chance he gets. He has taken on the role of head honcho of the squad, choosing to lead with action and let his voice shine watch as he builds his future habits. “Now the main thing for me is to win this national championship with the guys I’m in Link with,” Chris says.
The journey has been rewarding, finishing as the No. 7 player in the Class of 2025. But that sense of accomplishment has yet to fade. There are more levels to climb before reaching the ultimate goal.
“It feels good, but at the same time it’s not the only place I want to be. The rankings are great. But the NBA, and staying in the NBA for a long time, is the main goal.”
Photos via Getty Images.Portrait by Marcus Stevens.
