Chimezie Metu's No. 4 jersey retired by Lawndale boys basketball

LAWNDALE — The early morning wake-up calls set the tone for a young Chimezie Metu.

"A lot of hard work I put in growing up," he said. "I just wanted to be great. I would see my mom waking up every day and I just knew that I had to get up and go get it.

"Just from that, when I realized that I could go to school for free, I was willing to do whatever it took. I knew how happy that would make my parents. I didn't grow up rich, but I didn't grow up poor, either. They always worked their behinds off to make sure I had what I needed and that (earning a scholarship) was one of the ways I could repay them."

Chimeze Metu is greeted by Lawndale athletic director Demetre Howard. Lawndale High jersey retirement ceremony for Chimeze Metu who played at the school before heading to USC and current team the NBA Sacramento Kings. Tuesday January 17, 2023 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Chimeze Metu thanks all in attendance for his jersey retirement ceremony. Lawndale High jersey retirement ceremony for Chimeze Metu who played at the school before heading to USC and current team the NBA Sacramento Kings. Tuesday January 17, 2023 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Chimeze Metu gives thanks to his mother. Lawndale High jersey retirement ceremony for Chimeze Metu who played at the school before heading to USC and current team the NBA Sacramento Kings. Tuesday January 17, 2023 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Chimeze Metu, center, with teammates, former high school players and coaches. Lawndale High jersey retirement ceremony for Chimeze Metu who played at the school before heading to USC and current team the NBA Sacramento Kings. Tuesday January 17, 2023 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Lawndale cheer leadrers perform during presetation. Lawndale High jersey retirement ceremony for Chimeze Metu who played at the school before heading to USC and current team the NBA Sacramento Kings. Tuesday January 17, 2023 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Lawndale High jersey retirement ceremony for Chimeze Metu who played at the school before heading to USC and current team the NBA Sacramento Kings. Tuesday January 17, 2023 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Lawndale basketball coach Christopher Brownlee shares tales of Chimeze Metu's early days at the school. Lawndale High jersey retirement ceremony for Chimeze Metu who played at the school before heading to USC and current team the NBA Sacramento Kings. Tuesday January 17, 2023 (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)

Metu's basketball journey started at Lawndale High School (2011-15), but then took him to USC (2015-18) and eventually into the NBA. He's currently playing for the Sacramento Kings.

Another page was added to his basketball achievements Tuesday night as his high school jersey No. 4 was retired by Lawndale.

"I just feel honored they felt moved enough to retire my jersey," the 25-year-old Metu said. "It feels great. I know I’m the first, but hopefully I’m not the last. There's a lot of great talent that walks through these doors and hopefully when they see that jersey hanging up, they will feel inspired."

The ceremony took place in front of Metu's family and friends, members of the Kings organization and the Lawndale administration. The Kings are in town to face the Lakers Wednesday night.

"He's a very smart kid. He was in my honors geometry class as a freshman," Lawndale athletic director Demetre Howard said of Metu. "He did well in my class. He had a good head on his shoulders, very disciplined kid. To see everything he's done up until this point is no surprise."

When Metu was a senior, the Cardinals advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA final, but lost to Canyon in double overtime. In the CIF State regional tournament, the Cardinals made it to the finals.

Metu was a four-year starter at Lawndale.

Metu went on to play at USC. He was the Pac-12 Most Improved Player as a sophomore and earned second team all-conference honors. He was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a junior. He declared for the NBA Draft after his junior year.

He graduated from USC in three years and was selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs.

"It's a very surreal moment," Lawndale coach Christopher Brownlee said. "We’re proud of him each step of the way he goes."

Metu's work ethic hasn't left him.

He was waived by the Spurs and by the Kings before he signed a multi-year deal with Sacramento in 2021.

"You have to shift it to whole another gear and I’m slowly getting there, I feel like," he said of sticking in the NBA. "Hopefully, I can keep everything going. I know that the work that it took to get me there is not going to be enough to keep me in, so I’ve just learned every day to keep turning it up.

"There are a lot of hard days and there's a lot of good days, but even on the hard days, just being consistent with the work you’re putting in, and I feel like me being consistent is the main reason that I’m here today.

"I would love to say that everything was fine and dandy everyday, but it wasn't like that for me. It was days where I felt like I was down and out, but you have to kick it into the next gear to get to where you want to go."

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