When Javon Baker was a kid, his present choice for one Christmas puzzled his dad, Jerald Baker.
“What do you want from Christmas?” Jerald asked a young Javon.
“A skateboard,” Javon answered.
“Have you ever ridden a skateboard,” Jerrald asked.
“No, but I will learn,” Javon said.
Not only did Javon insist his dad buy him a skateboard that Christmas, but he also wanted a customized one. Jerald came through and brought Javon the skateboard as an early Christmas present on Dec. 23. By Dec. 26, Jerald Baker heard a knock at his door. On the other side of the door stood an older kid, who had been riding skateboards for years.
The older kid began to ask Jerald how long Javon had been riding skateboards and Jerald told him only a couple of days, which left the older kid startled.
“He said, no you are telling a story, I do not believe that, he is sliding off rails and doing all type of stuff,” Jerald Baker said. “As far as being an athlete, Javon has been blessed with that talent. He is just as good at basketball as he is at football. He has always been like a fish out of the water.”
Javon has blossomed from a skateboard fanatic to one of the top wide receivers in the nation. All roads look to lead to Tuscaloosa for Javon as he is verbally committed to the Tide. The Georgia product has also risen up most recruiting rankings as he put on great performances at national camps throughout the Summer.
Javon’s competitiveness helped him steal the show at the Nike Opening Regional in Atlanta, where he won the wide receiver MVP award. Cam Newton’s 7v7 team also showcased Javon’s talent during their summer circuit. Throughout each event, a competitive attitude has accompanied Javon, which is something Jerald Baker said comes naturally to the 4-Star recruit.
Alabama WR commit, @javondbaker7, with the circus catch. Was he in? pic.twitter.com/9kCLiE1sEw
— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) March 23, 2019
“He is blessed with it, but what he does with it is, he make sure whatever team he is on, he is the alpha dog,” Jerald Baker added. “He is not going to say too much. He is going to lead by example. He will take the team and put them on his back if he has to.”
The alpha dog mentality Jerald Baker speaks of will have to accompany Javon at the next level as he could join an Alabama locker room filled with players with a similar attitude. The Crimson Tide got a commitment from Baker on Nov. 25, making Javon the Tide’s second 2020 wide receiver commit at that point.
The love Nick Saban and his staff shown Javon played a large role in his decision and it is what has both of Baker’s parents all in on the Tide.
“I love Alabama,” Jerald said. “I love how much love they have shown my family and my son. It means a lot to me, that Javon chose Alabama because of the tradition there and the fact that he is motivated enough to want to take on the challenge. Alabama has a tradition because of Nick Saban and a lot of coaches, who have coached up under him say he is a stickler or he is hard. Saban is just disciplined and Javon is willing to take on that challenge.”
Academics is also very important in the Baker home as both of Javon’s parents hold Master Degrees. Javon plans to pick a major associated with media to continue the Baker academic prestige.
“The main goal for him is I want him to get a degree,” Jerrald said. “The goal we talked about thoroughly is graduating. We do not want to be a three and done. I want him to enjoy the entire experience.”
Alabama’s 2020 class is expected to end with at least four wide receivers committed to join Baker. Some athletic skateboard like catches could be headed to Bryant-Denny Stadium in a couple of years.
Alabama 2020 WR commit, @javondbaker7, still putting on a show. @TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/gC6Y12wijf
— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) March 24, 2019
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
