Real Naziel 

Naziel J. Hilario analyzes pro athletes’ mixtapes, then subconsciously mirrors their signature moves and entertaining gestures when he plays.

“My son says, ‘Kyrie Irving is my favorite player.’ He watches a lot of videos on him trying to imitate his game.”

Both Mr. Hilario and Naziel, students of the game, approach basketball seriously.

Naziel inhabits Providence, Rhode Island, and clocks in 2nd grade at Lillian Feinstein Elementary School, where his transcript reads A’s & B’s.

Young Hilario chases Kentucky and Duke Universities for future athletic scholarship offers as well as the NBA dream.