Stern test only brings out the best in LZ's Orser

Pushing and elbowing for position in the paint? That's nothing.

Running endless sprints after practice? Child's play.

Surviving a blindside pick? Bring it.

Even the toughest parts of basketball can seem easy in Drake Orser's world.

It's what sometimes happens while he's simply sitting on the bench or in the locker room that isn't always pleasant.

“I feel like a normal kid,” Orser said. “But there are a lot of things I have to do that are a lot different than a normal kid.”

Orser, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound senior center at Lake Zurich, is a starter, and is blossoming into quite a weapon for the Bears.

He's also a Type I diabetic. Has been since he was 7 years old.

Since then, Orser has logged every meal he's ever eaten in a book. That way, he has a record of what his blood sugar levels are in relation to the types of food he eats.

He also sees a specialist every two to three months for a complete physical.

And he's got to test, test, and test some more. He tests his blood sugar, of course, and he'll do so at least five to six times a day.

“I have my dad wake me up at around 1 in the morning so that I can do a test,” said Orser, who isn't certain how diabetes was passed to him. The condition is genetic, but no one in his immediate or extended family has it. “I like to test a lot so I always know where I'm at.”

But sometimes, Orser doesn't even need a test. He just knows.

So when he tells head basketball coach Billy Pitcher that he needs to come out of a game or a practice because he doesn't feel right, it's no joke.

Sometimes, the situation is so serious that Orser will need a shot of insulin right there on the bench to balance out his sugar levels. Other times, he'll need to chug a bunch of Gatorades.

Beyond that, all Orser can do is monitor himself closely. He'll continue to test his blood sugar during games, practices and even halftime speeches if he has to. Testing is particularly important for diabetic athletes.

Orser needs to make sure that all of the adrenaline he generates while playing sports doesn't send his body and blood sugar levels into total chaos.

“One time I heard something beeping while we were watching film and I thought it was a kid's cell phone,” Pitcher said. “It was Drake's testing device. It's amazing all that he has to keep track of.”

Indeed, the personal responsibility involved in Orser's daily existence makes him wise beyond his years in many ways. No wonder Pitcher made him a team captain in only his second year of high school basketball.

“He's an inspiration,” Pitcher said of Orser, who didn't play basketball as a freshman or sophomore and only started playing in seventh grade. “A lot of kids in school really look up to Drake and the way he goes about handling (the diabetes). His perseverance is amazing and the thing is, he always stays positive. I mean, really positive.

“Drake was voted captain by an enormous amount. Every kid voted for him because they see the kind of positive, optimistic person he is and they gravitate to that. He's a great leader.”

Orser says he makes a choice every day to be positive about his life, about his diabetes.

“There have been times I'm sure I've complained about this and gotten down about this, but not very often,” Orser said. “In my family, I've been taught that life is what you make it and that going through life being optimistic is just a lot easier.”

That outlook came in handy when Orser was faced with another obstacle related to his health.

As a freshman and sophomore, he played football at Lake Zurich. While playing in the homecoming game during his sophomore year, Orser blew out his knee, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament.

At that point, he decided that his football career was over, but he knew that he still wanted to play sports. So, he looked into basketball, which is what all of his friends and family were encouraging him to play anyway.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he had grown from 6-2 to 6-8 between his freshman and sophomore year.

“I was always one of the taller kids, but I just really loved football, so that's what I did all through elementary school and junior high and then when I first got to high school,” Orser said. “But then I got hurt and I got even taller. One of my friends and neighbors (Lake Zurich point guard Mike Boyd) had always been trying to get me to play basketball. At that point, I just figured maybe I should try to play basketball again.”

The problem was, Orser didn't get to play any summer ball with the Bears leading into last season, his junior year. He spent the entire time rehabbing his knee.

So he entered last season having not played competitively since seventh grade. Not surprisingly, Orser played sparingly last season in a reserve role.

“Drake really hasn't played much, so, yes, he is behind,” Pitcher said. “At times, he might look like a sophomore out there just because he hasn't played as much as someone his age has.

“But you can tell he has talent. Every now and then, he has these flashes and you're just like, ‘Wow.' I think he's going to keep getting better and be a real impressive late bloomer.”

That's what some college coaches are banking on.

They see that Orser's learning curve is sharp. He's quickly getting more comfortable with the game of basketball. He's also filling out his 6-8 frame, and he's starting to put up some nice numbers.

Orser had a great summer playing with the Bears, sometimes scoring more than 20 points in their summer league games. Right now, he's averaging about 12 points per game and is among Lake Zurich's leaders in rebounds and blocks.

“I've heard from some Division III schools like Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana and Carroll College,” Orser said. “I almost can't believe it sometimes. It's shocking to me. I mean, a year ago, I was still deciding if I even wanted to play basketball again.

“If you told me then that I might have a chance to play in college, I would have just laughed.”

Now, Orser just smiles, especially when he's trying to fall asleep at night.

“I'm just so lucky,” said Orser, who could choose to believe that he's not. “I go to bed every night and thank God for all of the blessings in my life.”

pbabcock@dailyherald.com