When you look at the stat sheet at the end of a game you see the numbers and the numbers don’t lie but do they tell the whole story; well in the case of Chamblee’s Mark Yacklon they don’t.

The 6-5 senior has skills that don’t always show up in the form of points. I spotted Yacklon this past summer drilling three’s against some of the top players from around the Southeast at the prestigious Reebok Proving Ground players evaluation camp. Yacklon can hoop, but he’s so laid back that he hides his big-time talent.

Mark doesn’t talk a lot but after pulling a few teeth I was able to pull a few one-liners out of him (lol), check out my one-on-one with the 6-5 sharpshooter. .

L.A.:  “Who have been some of the most influential people in your life?”

Mark:  ”My family and my coaches”

L.A.:  “What has been one of the most memorable moments in your career so far?”
Mark:  “Beating #3 Ranked Southside in the Region Tournament”

L.A.:  “What moment(s) would you most like to forget?”

Mark:  ”Double overtime loss to Hart County in the playoffs”

L.A.: “What is the strongest part of your game?”

Mark:  ”3 Point Shooting”

L.A.:   “What do you think you need to work on to take your game to the next level?”

Mark:  ”Quickness on defense”

L.A.:  “Who has been one of the toughest players you ever had to play against and who is the best high school player you personally have ever seen?”

Mark:  “Toughest Player – Zack Swansey; Best Player – Derrick Rose”

L.A.:  “Without tipping your hand, give me the names of some colleges that you wouldn’t mind playing for?”

Mark:  “Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia State, Georgia Southern”

L.A.: “Tell me something about yourself that people wouldn’t know by just looking at you?”

Mark:  “That I can dunk”

L.A.: “Do you have a nickname?”

Mark:  “No”

L.A.: “If you could change anything in the world today what would it be?”

Mark:  “Get rid of terrorism”

L.A.:  “If you could meet anyone (not an athlete) in the world (past or present) who would it be and why?”

Mark:  “My Great Grandfather – I really didn’t get a chance to know him.”

L.A.: “Now we are going to do a little something called “CONFESSIONS of a Player”

CONFESSIONS of a Player

L.A.: “As an athlete is it easier to get a date or harder?”

Mark:  “Easier”

L.A.: “If you could date any woman in the world who would it be?”

Mark:  Halley Berry

 L.A.: “Do you get special treatment at home because you play sports?”

Mark:  “No”

L.A.: “If you were not an athlete do you think people would treat you different (explain)?”

Mark:  “Yes”

L.A.: “Can you cook, and I don’t mean boil an egg (laugh)?”
Mark:  “Yes”

L.A.: “When you step out, do you like to be noticed or recognized (not in swelled head kind of way)?” 
Mark:  “No”

L.A.: “When you are participating in your sport are you cocky or confidant, or both?”
Mark:  “Not cocky – quiet confidence”

L.A.: “Keep it real now, do you use the fact that you are an athlete to sometimes get your way?”
Mark:  “No”

L.A.: “Have you ever backed away from a challenge and later told yourself that that will never happen again?”

Mark:  “No”

L.A.: “Who is your favorite teacher in school?”

Mark:  “My Literature Teacher”

L.A.: “What subject do you like most and which subject do you like least?”

Mark: “Most – Language; Least – Math”

L.A.: “Last CONFESSION, if you could sit down with anybody in the world past or present who would it be and what would you talk to the about?”

Mark:  “My Great Grandfather – talk about his life”

Until you next CONFESSION, Player... Keep it Real

Yacklon showingthe form that makes him a deadly three-point shooter.

L.A.: “If you were not playing basketball what would you be doing now?”
Mark:  “Bowling”

L.A.: “What is your favorite TV Show and Movie?”
Mark:  “Movie – Transformers; TV Show – Sports Center”

L.A.: “What type of hobbies do you have?”
Mark:  “Bowling”

L.A.: “What type of music do you like and do you have a favorite artist or group?”

Mark:  “Rap – No favorite artist”

L.A:  “What’s your favorite food?”
Mark:  “Salmon”

L.A.:  “Who’s your favorite player, college or professional (any sport)?”
Mark:  “Amare Stoudemire”

L.A.:  “Who’s your favorite team, college or professional (any sport)?”
Mark:  “Phoenix Suns”

L.A.: “Would you like to give a shout out to some of your people?”

Mark:  “No”

L.A.: “Mark, Thank you for your time, it has been my pleasure to be able to “Keep It Real” with you.”
Mark:  “Thank You”

If you want to keep it real  “Live in L.A.” …. holla at me

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