Rochester, N.Y. — (WHAM) Two local basketball stars are turning their hoop dreams into reality.

Rochester natives Jaden Bradley and Melvin Council Jr. are both set to begin their professional careers with the NBA.

“I’m just thankful that I get an opportunity to play on an NBA team,” Council, Jr. said.

Council, Jr. who was born and raised in Rochester, was signed as a free agent to the New Orleans Pelicans.

“Coming from Rochester, New York, it hasn’t really sinked in yet. So when it sinks in, then maybe I enjoy that moment, but right now I’m just ready to work,” Council said.

Jaden Bradley, who grew up in Rochester before moving at a young age, played for Arizona before being drafted in the 2nd round by the Toronto Raptors.

Both guards grew up playing with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester.

“They played down here in the Bitty Basketball Program, and what Jaden used to do, he used to come in, participate, just sit down and watch, and then once he was old enough to start playing, Jaden started playing,” said Reginald Smith, health and PE coordinator at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester.

And they never stopped. Trained by his father from a young age, Council, Jr. was a star player at U Prep before playing for four different colleges, including St. Bonaventure and Kansas.

“A lot of traveling, spending money, time with him one on one sometimes, you know, just watching him enjoy it,” said Chalonda Dillon, Council, Jr.’s mother. “That’s his happy place, the court.”

“All the times we spent in the gym and I’m thinking he’s not paying attention and when watching me play he actually was paying attention,” said Melvin Council, Sr.

Now, proud parents and the entire community are ready to see these Rochester ballers hit the court on the national stage.

“These two people to my left and to my right? They believe in me. And they always told me don’t put your head down. And I always had nights where I’d think that I wasn’t good enough or I wasn’t that and they just believe in me,” Council, Jr. said.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester says Council, Jr. will be there Friday afternoon to help celebrate the club’s reading awards celebration.