At the end of his senior year of high school, alumnus  Cameron Liss (‘14) thought he was going to college at the University of Michigan. But, during his orientation at Michigan in July, Liss received a call from John Grace,  University of Illinois head basketball coach, asking him to be a preferred walk-on for the team.

“I knew [being asked to join the team] was a huge opportunity and…it’s a huge commitment,” said Liss. “I just wanted to make sure I was willing to sacrifice sleep, going out and homework…but I decided I wanted to [join the team] and it was too hard for me to pass up.”

Liss played basketball during all four of his years at Glenbrook North, as well as playing AAU basketball for Full Package, a travel basketball program based out of the Chicago suburbs. Steven Pratt, founder of Full Package Athletics, said he saw the need for “character guys” at Illinois, and presented Liss’ hard-working, tough attitude to the basketball program.

“I’ve thrown [Liss] out of the gym before, so he’s a tough kid,” said Pratt. “But he cares about doing the right thing…and you need people in your organization [like that].”

Pratt said Liss always thinks he has a chance to win and “is always willing to do the dirty work no matter what the odds are.” Pratt recalled a game in which Liss, as a sophomore, played a highly-ranked team and matched up against kids that were five and six inches taller than him.

“They were just supposed to blow our team out and [Liss] just kept battling and battling and helped us come back to win the game,” Pratt said.

David Weber, Head Coach of the GBN varsity basketball team, said Liss has a tremendous love for the sport

“He loves to be in the gym, he has a great attitude towards basketball and there are never going to be any problems with him,” Weber said.

Pratt said he told Liss what being a walk-on was about: hard work, fighting from the bottom [of the roster] and being the last man battling his way in a group.

“[Being a walk-on] is a load,” Pratt said. “It takes a lot of strength and courage [to be a walk-on], but [Liss] drove the idea and would not let it go.”

Liss joined an Illinois team that failed to make the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament last year and finished its season with 20 wins and 15 losses. He said the goal is to win the Big Ten Championship. The team has only been training together for a few weeks. Liss said he is trying to get used to the system, as well as adjusting to the speed of the college game.

“Every time he steps out on the court he has to give a hundred percent,” said Weber. “He can’t have bad days…and he needs to come everyday with a good attitude.”

Weber said  Liss can help remind his teammates the importance of going to class, doing their work and staying organized.

The Illinois  athletic department did not immediately return requests for comment.

“I’m just trying to be a positive influence, whether that is [through] academics, on the court or [through my] work ethic,” said Liss. “I want to contribute to the team in every way I can.”

Liss said he loves the experience of being an athlete on campus as everyone really admires the basketball players and is rooting for the team. He and the team were able to watch an Illinois football game on the sideline and were applauded during an intermission by the crowd.

“[Liss] has  to do something I would not choose to do, but that’s why he’s a good person to [walk-on],” said Pratt. “It’s a wild ride…but I think [Liss] assessed that and is going to have a lifetime experience.”