Lakes' Balliu continues to aim high

For fun, Lakes senior Jake Balliu and his friends love to work on their dunks.

On a 9-foot rim.

"Maybe nine-and-a-half feet, depending on the day," Balliu said with a laugh. "We just love to fool around and play low-rim basketball and dunk on everyone."

Balliu, a 5-foot-9, three-sport athlete who has always been the little guy, also loves to prove people wrong. That's why he's not satisfied with dunking on the low rims. This summer, he continued with his quest to master the standard 10-foot rim.

"I actually finally got one," Balliu said excitedly. "My first dunk. I dunked off an alley oop. That was a pretty awesome experience. It's been my goal since freshman year to dunk on a 10-foot rim."

Balliu was a mere 5-foot-3 as a freshman. But he has never let his shorter stature stand in the way of his lofty goals.

Balliu's next big goal is to play college football. He knows that most kids his size are the first ones to be crossed off the list. College coaches don't even give them a glimpse.

"I might be small, but I have the will power to win and I will work to do whatever I have to do to help my team," Balliu said. "I always try to work harder than everyone else. My dad is always telling me that 'it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.' I just want one coach, just one, to give me an opportunity. I know I'm not that perfect 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, but I want one coach to look past the numbers on paper and see who I really am."

A jack-of-all-trades for the Eagles, Balliu has had his biggest impact as a slot receiver this season. But he's also been called on to play running back, quarterback, cornerback as well as punt and kick returner over his varsity career, which began when he was pulled up for the playoffs as a sophomore. He also is the holder for extra points.

"I love the slot position," Balliu said. "You get a little bit of everything. You can run with the ball, you can run those quick routes and make catches. I'm kind of like a Wes Welker-type, the speedy fast guy who makes things happen in the screen game."

Welker, a receiver for the Denver Broncos, is also 5-foot-9, which might be the biggest reason he's Balliu's favorite NFL player. Balliu, who has yet to receive any college offers, can identify with Welker's underdog storyline.

Welker went undrafted in 2004 out of Texas Tech. He's now a five-time Pro Bowler.

"He just fought through it and he's proved everyone wrong and I look up to him for that," Balliu said. "He's also got the same body type as me, and he kind of does the same things on the field as me. I think I could be that same kind of player if some coach gives me the opportunity."

Balliu certainly has many of the qualities of a college athlete. He's placed in the state track meet each of the last two years as a member of two speedy relay teams (4x200 and 4x400).

And in basketball, Balliu is a quick and heady point guard who averaged double-figures last season and went to the state 3-point contest. Now, he has proven he can play at the rim.

"I've been known to jump out of the gym," laughed Balliu, who has been named all-North Suburban Conference in all three of his sports. "I've got some (natural gifts). I've got big feet, I wear a size 10 ½ shoe, and I'm one of those kids with arms that go to my knees. I've got big hands and can palm the ball easily.

"But people who don't know me are a little surprised by me. They don't expect anything out of the small kid. They think I'm nothing at first."

People who know Balliu, know better, of course.

"As great of an athlete as Jake is, he is an even better person. He is awesome with all of the coaches' kids," Lakes football coach Luke Mertens said. "Every time I play football with my 5-year-old son, he always says, 'Dad, I'm Jake and you have to try to tackle me.'"

Of course, bringing down Balliu is never easy to do, and he's not about to let the college football establishment do it.

"It's always been my dream to play sports in college," said Balliu, who has the grades (3.95 grade point average with advanced placement classes) to play anywhere. "I'm going to do everything I can this season to make it happen, because playing in college is where I'm supposed to be."

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

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