Jaali Love has made himself right at home in Waukegan.
Only months after moving from Chicago’s West Side, where he had spent most of his life, the 6-foot-7 junior wing has blended seamlessly with the Bulldogs.
“Manley brought me up to where I am and made me better,” Love said of his previous school. “I really feel like everyone here cares for one another, and the attention you get is really high. I feel blessed to be in this situation where such a good program was available. I’m glad my mom made the move up here.”
So are the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-0), who are trending up in the North Suburban Conference after adding Love’s uncommonly versatile skill set to their already talented core. They beat 2024 Class 4A sectional champion Warren and Lake Zurich in their first two conference games, with Love averaging 14.5 points in those matchups.
“He’s been a really good teammate, and as the new face in town, he’s meshed really well with the other guys,” Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw said. “He’s a good practice player, and he absorbs things really well. He just wants to win and sees that this has a chance to be a really good experience.”
Love, who goes by “Rico,” has all the traits of modern bigs, meaning he’s multidimensional. He developed the more traditional skills early.
“As a kid, I was always the tallest guy out there, so that pushed me down deep into the paint,” Love said. “So I know I can be effective down there with any of those moves — a drop step or posting up.”
But Love is just as comfortable on the perimeter. He can knock down jumpers and be effective in Waukegan’s motion offense. Ashlaw is especially fond of the fact that Love doesn’t have to be anchored underneath the basket.
“I really like to pass the ball,” Love said. “That really makes me feel good. Even when I’m playing the 5, I’m looking to pass, either on a give-and-go or on an outlet pass off a rebound.”
Love’s numbers through the Bulldogs’ first four games exhibited his ability to contribute on multiple levels. He was averaging 17.3 points on 59% shooting from 2-point range, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.2 blocks.
“The first thing you see is his size, but he’s a really good energy guy every day in practice and in games,” Waukegan junior point guard Carter Newsome said. “It’s really useful to have another versatile guy. Having someone like him gives us another threat and takes the pressure off of other guys. The defense definitely has to focus on him.”
Love is on solid footing heading into the meat of the season’s schedule, but he had to learn a system that is completely different from what he ran at Manley.
“It’s been a lot of X’s and O’s, and they run a lot of plays,” Love said, emphasizing the words “a lot.” “We’re constantly passing and cutting, running down screens and flair screens. They’ve pushed me into how they want to play, but I’ve really adjusted to it. It’s a very neat way to play, but it also gives us a good amount of freedom.”
Waukegan, which also added Grayslake Central transfer Xavi Granville, has a good amount of optimism. The win against Warren, for instance, came after three losses in the rivalry last season and another loss in a summer league.
Love was on the court for that last one.
“This summer, I felt like I had nothing to lose against them, and when that game ended, we thought, ‘We’ve got to get on them next time’,” he said. “Maybe now we’ll be the team that’s being hunted.”
Regardless, Love is motivated to take his game and the Bulldogs to new heights.
“I love my teammates, and I feel like we can do some real damage,” he said. “With me coming out here into 4A, everyone will see how passionate I am about the game. I’m going to do whatever I can to make the team win.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
