The bookends of Yashir “DJ” Cole’s varsity experience in the Waukegan boys basketball program could not be any more different.
The initial luster of Cole’s promotion in the middle of the 2021-22 season dimmed considerably amid a seemingly endless string of losses. Three years later, as the only player left from that team, the 5-foot-9 senior guard can truly appreciate how far the Bulldogs have come.
“The program was really bad, and I went through those hard times, all the losing,” Cole said of his freshman season, when Waukegan went 3-27. “Now I’m here celebrating with my teammates. It’s been a long ride for me. But we do this all together.”
Cole and his teammates were celebrating after North Suburban Conference co-champion Waukegan’s 73-57 win in the Class 4A Libertyville Regional championship game on Friday. By beating the fourth-seeded host Wildcats for the third time this season, the top-seeded Bulldogs won their first regional title since 2019 and advanced to play second-seeded Rockford Guilford on their home court in the Waukegan Sectional semifinals on Wednesday.
Cole may not have been a statistical leader for the Bulldogs (23-7). But he was his typically productive self alongside junior wing Simereon Carter, who scored a game-high 21 points, and junior forward Jaali Love, who had 19 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Carter Newsome added 16 points. Junior forward Bryce Wegrzyn led Libertyville (16-14) with 16 points.
“DJ isn’t a star, but he does the dirty work, and every team needs a player like him,” Love said. “Without him, our energy wouldn’t be there. If the gym was quiet, you would have heard DJ. He’s the loudest one, and we feed off that.
“This is his first time winning, and I feel good for him.”
Cole’s efforts exemplify his careerlong buy-in to the idea that the sum of Waukegan’s highly talented parts is stronger than any individual. He has been a consistent contributor as the Bulldogs went 12-17 in 2022-23 and 17-14 in 2023-24.
Cole is averaging 6.5 points this season, but Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw listed “one billion intangibles daily” as an addendum to his stats.
“He does a little of everything,” Ashlaw said. “He keeps us organized and keeps us pushing when we’re flat. He gets on us in timeouts and takes the board out of my hand and puts stuff up there. He helps me run practice.
“He is everything you want out of a high school senior basketball player who has seen us from rock bottom to going back home for a sectional.”
Against Libertyville, Cole set the tone early with a steal and a fast-break layup. He also scored on a tip-in at the end of the first half, giving the Bulldogs a 34-24 lead.
“As soon as I saw Simereon take the shot, I saw it was falling short,” Cole said. “The big guy (Wegrzyn) was on my hip, so I jumped and put my hand in there. I didn’t think it was going in, but it did, and that was a nice boost.”
Cole, who finished with five points, doesn’t expect to score a lot. That’s fine with him.
“I don’t care about scoring 20 points,” he said. “All that matters is getting the win. I like to be a complete player who can do a little of everything, and as a team, we try to execute everything perfectly, better than other teams. I try to lead the way, showing how to do that.”
One of the ways Cole takes the lead is by rolling up his sleeves on defense. Even with his 160-pound frame, he doesn’t back down from a challenge.
“I love to put a body on somebody and make all of the hustle plays,” Cole said. “Height doesn’t matter to me. Weight doesn’t matter to me. I just want to get the job done.”
Having done his job with such regularity will be Cole’s legacy.
“Here’s why he’s so special,” Ashlaw said. “He’s been part of the climb back. That was unacceptable to him, me and everybody. Now we have four other starters with a lot of firepower, and he doesn’t have to be that firepower. You need that spindle for the other dudes to go around, and he’s that spindle.
“You can’t ask for a better kid, and I am so ridiculously happy for him.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
