Grayslake Central senior Jayden Hall wakes up early.

Since this summer, he has been rising routinely at 5 a.m.

“Five days a week,” Hall said. “I wake up and go work on my craft every day. I go hard and try to develop.”

Last season, Hall came off the bench for the Rams, who won a Class 3A sectional title with a sensational group of seniors.

“Being behind those seniors, my role was to play the best I could for the few minutes I was in,” he said.

Hall also knew this season would be his time to take on the mantle, and the 6-foot, 170-pound guard put in the work so he could make the most of the opportunity. He was averaging 13.0 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals before scoring 15 points in Grayslake Central’s overtime loss to Antioch in a Northern Lake County Conference game on Wednesday.

“My role has changed,” Hall said. “Now I’m a leader. I’m a scorer.

“I wanted to make a statement. I wanted my name heard in the county. I wanted to be that guy for the team.”

Hall has delivered for the Rams (5-3, 2-1) this season.

“Jayden plays a big role for us,” senior guard Cayden Woods said. “He works very hard in practice and in games. He has been good under pressure and is also playing great defense.”

Grayslake Central coach Brian Centella had reason to think this was coming.

“There are some kids that you see a burning desire to be great in,” Centella said. “I saw that in Jayden. But I also saw his willingness to work and to be coachable. I remember he used to ask me as a freshman and a sophomore, ‘Coach, can I come try out for varsity?’ I loved that in him, that he always wanted to compete against the best.”

Hall showed what he could do when he finally got into a game with varsity players.

“I remember one time we had him up on varsity in a summer league game,” Centella said. “We were playing a very good Stevenson team, and he didn’t back down for a second. He just has that toughness in him.

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“Then last year, he’d sub into the game, and we wouldn’t lose a beat. He led our team in charges taken.”

After last season, Hall got to work. He ran through countless grueling drills with his uncle Alvin Sandique. He toiled away at improving his 3-point shot, his ballhandling and his conditioning. He honed his leadership skills, knowing he’d be called upon by the Rams.

“First, I had to make 300 shots when I got in the gym,” Hall said. “And my consistency with shooting from last year has improved a lot.”

That work has put Hall in a position to help Grayslake Central succeed in his senior season.

“In the seven years since I moved here, Grayslake has grown onto me,” he said. “(Coach Centella) has always motivated me and told me that one day I’d come up to varsity and be a stud.

“I love it here. I love the coaching staff and how they coach, and that motivated me to make sure I complete my high school career here.”

Sam Brief is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.