VYPE 411: Orlando Horton Jr of Houston Christian presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors
Orlando Horton Jr. recently won the VYPE Houston Private School Preseason Boys Basketball Player of the Year Fall Poll! VYPE caught up with Horton for the 411 on the star from Houston Christian.
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VYPE: How long have you been playing basketball and how did you get your start?
Horton: My basketball career started at the age of 4 in the backyard with my dad. He worked on my dribbling and shooting, from there he introduced me to the YMCA sports which I excelled and was asked to play up two age groups. From there I went to I9 sports where my dad was still my coach, doing I9 sports I scored the the highest amount of points I scored in my career which is 43! From I9 sports I was introduced to AAU basketball because I was told I should play against higher level competition and started playing up with DGIB, because of my high level play with DGID the GULF Coast Blue Chips (Clyde Jackson) asked me if they can build a team around me and a couple of others and from there my basketball career took off.
VYPE: Who's your favorite athlete and why?
Horton: My favorite player is Lebron James because he is arguably the best player to ever touch a basketball. But when he retires Ja Morant will be my favorite player due to the fact he reminds me of myself. He can get to the goal whenever he wants and is very electric with the ball, so I'm starting to idolize my game after him a lot now.
VYPE: What's your pre-game meal? Routine?
Horton: My pregame meal is usually 2 bananas or just a peanut butter jelly sandwich because I don't like eating a full meal before the game. Now my pregame routine is turn on NBA YoungBoy and meditate for like 10 minutes and then I pray and then I do a lot of toe jumps to get my legs loose.
VYPE: Off the court, what is your favorite thing to do?
Horton: Off the court I like spending time with family and friends, I don't too much go out a lot because in today society you never know what can happen and you can always be at the wrong place at the wrong time so I stay at home and chill. Since I play basketball a lot I like to relax so that's pretty much all I do on my off time.
VYPE: What's your favorite subject in school?
Horton: My favorite subjects Houston Christian is "New Testament" which is a Bible class. I say that because it's really a class where I get closer to God and it always remind me to stay humble because it's a God given talent and as long as you have that strong connection with God it's hard for the devil to block your blessings.
VYPE: What is the one memory from the game you'll never forget playing basketball?
Horton: A memory I'll never forget is playing so good in Peach Jam. That was the hardest tournament for me to play in, not because of the competition but because my uncle was at a really bad spot batting cancer and my parents couldn't really support me as much because they had to support him. And he was my favorite uncle so it was hard to go out and play knowing my uncle isn't able to cheer me on and constantly hearing he doesn't have long to live. I believe I went to see him on our bye game and spent a night with him which was my last time I got to have that time with him like that again and the next day I went out and dropped a double double. After the tournament I was named defensive player of the session and all eybl second team for the 2023 class so that's by far my best memory playing basketball because that was dedicated to him and I'm looking forward to carrying that momentum into school ball and lead Houston Christian to another state championship with my brothers.
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