houstonchronicle
NEW YORK Kingston Flemings is hungry as he walks into Uncle Pauls Pizza.
Its the latest stop in what will be a whirlwind next few days leading up to Tuesdays NBA draft, where Flemings is projected as a top-10 pick.
Its Fathers Day as the Flemings family gathers around two tables inside the pizzeria, located just a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal, Madison Avenue, and the horn-honking madness of Midtown Manhattan.
A man brings out a bacon-and-cheese pizza, Kingstons favorite, chicken wings and red velvet cake for dessert.
Growing up, Flemings would be somewhere on the road this time of year for a basketball tournament with his AAU team, San Antonio Future.
But this lunch, this trip, has been 19 years in the making.
It has been a goal the goal that Flemings wrote for the first time years ago on a sheet of paper.
Every little kid says, I want to be in the NBA, I want to be in the NFL, said Dee Flemings, Kingstons dad.
Thats just one thing that was always constant.
That one thing never changed.
Other things came and went.
It was always, I want to be an engineer after.
I want to be a businessman after.
He was always consistent with that.
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The journey to Barclays Center site of the two-day draft has been a long road, Dee Flemings said.
There was Kingstons snub for McDonalds All-American.
The time he came up short for a state title at San Antonio Brennan.
But there was also the success Flemings had in his only season as point guard at the University of Houston.
All-American.
All-Big 12.
Finalist for the Wooden Award, presented to college basketballs top player.
One of the most decorated players in the programs storied history.
Next: NBA lottery pick.
Failure is not fatal and delayed is not denied, Dee Flemings said of the message hes always shared with the second-oldest of his five children.
Just keep going no matter what.
It motivated him.
On Friday afternoons, Flemings would get out of school early, hop in his older brother Shaydons Honda and make the nearly four-hour drive from San Antonio to the UH campus.
Flemings would go immediately to the Guy V.
Lewis Development Facility for a workout, check in to a hotel, and spend the next two days working out before going back home late Sunday.
Then they would do it all again the following weekend.
He had an offseason before the offseason, Shaydon said of the long drives once Flemings' high school season ended and months before he was scheduled to officially join the Cougars.
It shows him that with dedication, discipline and routine you can absolutely accomplish everything, Dee added.
If he wants to be a Hall of Famer, theres nothing stopping him from doing it.
Shaydon thought about all the miles the brothers have driven together.
Surreal, Shaydon said.
I dont think it will hit me until hes playing (in the NBA).
As Kingston Flemings took a bite of pizza part of pre-draft content arranged by the NBA his mother Shayla joins him.
She jokes about his ability to eat, specifically pizza, doughnuts, and bacon-and-egg breakfast tacos, and not gain a pound.
Hell eat it and Ill gain the weight, Shayla joked.
His metabolism is insane.
Shayla stopped to reflect on the past 12 months.
It was just last summer that the family dropped off Flemings at college.
I feel like its been five minutes, she said.
I feel like we just dropped him off at UH yesterday.
This day is special for the Flemings, not just because Kingston is a couple days from hearing his name called in the draft (most projections have him being taken no later than the No.
8 pick).
Four of the Flemings' children are on the trip: Kingston (19), Shaydon (25), Kadence (13), and Royal (12).
Bella, a 17-year-old freshman basketball player at Duke, will join the family Tuesday at the draft.
The Flemings' San Antonio Village, a group of friends and coaches who have been a part of Flemings' journey, will arrive Tuesday morning.
Definitely special, Kingston said.
People that Ive known since I was little and started playing basketball.
Might as well keep with the same people, those that know me the best.
It feels great to have them there at the place I was trying to get to.
This day means more, especially to Dee, who is wearing a black T-shirt with Flemings and the phrase, We can take those, or nah? ' the moment from a press conference that went viral during the NCAA Tournament.
Hes always been daddys boy, Shayla said of the bond.
Hes put in a lot of work, a lot of rebounds; theyve butt heads a lot.
He really held them accountable.
Hes going to have all the feelings (on draft night).
Funny thing, the Flemings family has never sat down and watched the draft together, Most of the time Flemings had AAU practice.
Dee would keep track of the picks on his phone.
In practice, Im calling out the picks, Dee said.
So-and-so went No.
1.
So-and-so just went third.
This is our first draft together.
A few blocks away Sunday afternoon, outside the NBA Store, Flemings stood in front of a monitor and played the NBA2K video game against fans.
He was Steph Curry, another time Jalen Brunson, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant.
Hes thought about the fact he will be in the next version of the game that comes out in a few months.
Fast and get to the rim, Kingston said.
I should be usable, for sure.
As soon as he arrived Sunday, Flemings had a workout at the National Basketball Players Association headquarters.
He has another scheduled for Monday, followed by media obligations and a community event in the Bronx.
His representatives set up for Flemings and his girlfriend to attend the Supergirl premiere Monday night, one last quiet moment before the draft.
This week has all been carefully choreographed by the Flemings family.
Its a celebration of family, each sharing a role in Kingston realizing his lifelong dream.
Even how he selected the agency that would represent him Erika Ruiz and Monique Francis, co-founders of Los Angeles-based Primera Sports.
In what was a last-second meeting, Ruiz and Francis put together a presentation for Flemings that included a carefully constructed pitch based on family.
And some sweets.
They designed a box that had Kingstons name with a crown and filled it with Swedish Fish and Skittles, two of Flemings' favorite candy, and a picture frame of his family.
Its a partnership, Ruiz said.
This is family.
Thats something they valued about us.
They value hard work, not just on big things but the small things.
Dee Flemings admits hes not sure if he will be able to contain his emotions on draft night.
Its not something you can prepare for, he said.
This moment, though, its been in the planning for a long time.
NBA has always been the goal, Shayla said.
Ive told him a few times that little Kingston would be so proud of you.
Its surreal to think we are moments away from him reaching his goal.