Ever since DJ Long could remember, he has had a basketball in his hand.

“I’ve been playing basketball since I was in kindergarten,” the Mexico senior said. “Ever since I was born, I had a ball in my hand. It wasn’t a blanket. It was a basketball.”

Long signed on Friday at the Mexico Sports Complex to play basketball for Kansas City Kansas Community College, making him the third Bulldog star in three years to rise to the next level. In his one year at Van-Far and three years at Mexico, Long has 1,614 points, 425 rebounds, 407 assists, 210 steals and a 73-14 in his three seasons with the Bulldogs.

He averaged 18.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.6 steals this past season to earn his first all-state honors to go along with being twice an all-conference and all-district player. Long ran the offense for the Bulldogs as their point guard, inspired by a certain NBA star and motivated by what he has accomplished so far. 

“It really got me after watching my favorite player Russell Westbrook,” Long said. “I’m going to work even harder and go to where I want to be.”

The soon-to-be marketing student Long said the possibility of college was there when he played summer AAU ball, convincing him to become a better player for the sake of his teammates but also himself. When the Blue Devils at KCKCC came calling, he realized how much of a good fit it was for him after being a cog in Mexico’s system in the past few years.

“They want to play defense just how we want to play defense,” Long said. “They want to push the ball. It’s just physical defense, or ’Dog defense.”

Head coach Darren Pappas said it was quite a showing for the program to have Isaiah Reams, Jordan Shelton and now Long sign to play at the next level. Reams became an All-American at North Central Missouri College before deciding to transfer to Truman State University for his four-year degree, and Shelton went to two-year John Wood Community College.

In terms of Long’s college prospects, Pappas said Long obviously has the skills that improved even more in his senior season, leading Mexico to its second conference championship, second district championship and second state quarterfinal game in three years. However, it goes beyond the physical for Long.

“It speaks volumes on the type of kids we have in our program and the type of player we have in our program that are able to go and play at the next level,” Pappas said. “DJ is another one we are really excited to play at the next level and watch him grow as a player and individual. His skillset, his IQ and his overall game fits at the collegiate level.”

Long’s time at the point helped him improve his basketball IQ after his love for the game encouraged him to learn more about the game so he could set up his teammates well. 

“I see the game very well at my age, I guess you could say,” Long said. “My basketball IQ and my playmaking skills allow me to see the floor.”

Pappas said college coaches should get even more out of Long, even after he said Long gave the Bulldogs “everything he had.” This also includes how much Long has put in the game outside of the program, including his years before high school and in the summer.  

Having to say goodbye to that leadership and knowledge at such an important position will be tough for Mexico, Pappas said, but he also said Long has done well in preparing Charlie Fisher to take up that role next. Pappas said they have gone “head-to-head against each other for several years.”

“They are going to get a lot more on the defensive end, and they’re going to get a lot more on the offensive end,” Pappas said. “They are going to get a point guard that can run their system. He had to take over for Isaiah Reams the past two years, and you saw his game grow and blossom from his junior year to his senior year. That’s really what’s great about the job and about coaching.”

The KCKCC Blue Devils just finished their third straight winning season and won their first regular season conference title since 2019-20. Long said being part of the two distinct championship teams in the past three years with Mexico are his fondest memories in his high school career so he has to improve more to create more opportunities like that in the future.

“I would say get stronger,” Long said when asked what’s next for his game,” There are guys two years older than me that are a lot stronger than what I am now. Shooting ability — free throws, 3-point and all that — is also what I want to focus on.”