That state championship is still one of Ross’s happiest memories. Garnering attention as a top high school prospect, he transferred the following season to Montrose Christian School, across the country in Maryland. Montrose was known for its basketball program and the move was supposed to give Ross, then 16, a better opportunity in the game. He excelled on the court, but was homesick. He transferred back to Jefferson High partway through his senior year. While he was away, the other four members of the Fab Five had won another State championship. When Ross tried to join the team for a last run as seniors, the district rejected his transfer. He attended every practise and watched every game as his friends won a third straight championship—their second without him.

After graduating, Ross committed to play for the University of Washington under veteran coach and former NBA player, Lorenzo Romar. Before his first season with the Huskies, Ross sent his mother a text message with a picture of his new jersey and number. He’d chosen 31, the number she wore when she played. Today, Ross has the number tattooed on his left forearm. When Taelor played for Seattle University, she chose 31, too. They call it the family number.

Ross broke out during his sophomore season at Washington in 2011, averaging 16 points per game. He was already on the radar of then-Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo when coach Dwane Casey attended a Huskies practise that fall to steal some drills from his old friend Romar. Casey was immediately impressed by Ross’s natural athleticism and outside shooting.

Ross decided to enter the NBA Draft that year, but didn’t expect to be a top-10 pick. His agent had to convince him to attend the Draft even though he hadn’t received a greenroom invite as one of the top prospects. Ross noticed the camera on him ahead of the eighth pick, after Harrison Barnes was taken by Golden State with the seventh. When David Stern called his name, Ross had a difficult time processing what had happened. A day later, he was whisked away to Toronto—a place he’d never been, but one that would soon become his most consistent home.