Fitting in: Neuqua Valley graduate John Poulakidas hangs with elite college wings at Jayson Tatum camp

Elite. A distinction deemed upon those who perform at the highest level. John Poulakidas showed he belongs with that group at Jayson Tatum’s Elite Camp in Las Vegas earlier this week.

Poulakidas, a former Neuqua Valley High School and current Yale star, joined 13 other collegiate wings for Tatum’s invitation-only camp. Poulakidas entered camp as the only Ivy Leaguer.

“Being the only one (Ivy League player) at the Tatum camp just sort of gives me a little chip on my shoulder,” Poulakidas said.

Tatum, who helped the Boston Celtics win their league leading 18th NBA championship over the Dallas Mavericks last month, began the camp last summer.

The two-day camp started with drill work. Coaching from Tatum himself and his trainer provided players with the chance to learn firsthand from one of the NBA’s best.

Camp finished with five-on-five exhibitions, allowing the players to display their skills in a game-like setting.

“Competing, competing, competing,” Poulakidas said. “Everyone was focused and going hard. It was just a great two days.”

Poulakidas believes his shooting ability and feel for the game shined in Vegas. The rising senior led Yale with 83 3-pointers and finished third in the Ivy League in that category.

“To be at this camp and represent Yale was just a great experience for me and great for the school,” Poulakidas said.

Although Poulakidas shined at Neuqua Valley, receiving 15 Division I offers, he looks back most fondly on time spent with his teammates at weekly team dinners during the season.

“The off-the-court stuff with the guys was definitely the cherry on top for me,” Poulakidas said.

The 6-foot-6 shooting guard decided on Yale because of “the perfect mix of academics and high-level basketball.”

After playing just five minutes per game his freshman season, Poulakidas started every game of his sophomore and junior seasons.

Poulakidas emphasized the importance of learning from guards Azar Swain and Jalen Gabbidon, both of whom were seniors during Poulakidas’s first season, as the reason for his growth.

The Bulldogs defeated Brown in the Ivy League final and Poulakidas led the team with 18 points, guiding Yale to the Big Dance.

Poulakidas exploded in Yale’s first round matchup with Auburn. The Naperville native scored 28 points on 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, including a 3-pointer to put the Bulldogs ahead for good with just over two minutes to play.

“Those are the moments you work for,” Poulakidas said. “When nobody’s watching and it’s late at night and you’re tired, and you don’t really want to go shoot, but you know you should.”

Now, with Tatum’s elite camp in the rearview mirror, and his senior season approaching, Poulakidas is focused on two things: Helping his Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament, and getting one step closer to his goal, the NBA.

“That’s every basketball players dream,” Poulakidas said. “That’s definitely my biggest dream, ever since I was a kid.”