Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

It’s lonely sometimes at the top, but Hillcrest’s Jamir Ratliff realized his moment was coming.

For the first time in three years, the senior point guard is the only one bearing his family name playing for the Hawks. It brings a different type of pressure but also a taste of personal freedom.

“The last two years, I was playing behind my brothers, and now I’m alone, so everything relies on me,” he said. “I take inspiration from my brothers, but I definitely am trying to be myself out there.”

His name belonged up on the marquee lights Tuesday night.

The 6-foot Ratliff looked perfect in the part of team leader, scoring 16 points to power host Hillcrest to a 64-51 win over Oak Lawn in a South Suburban Conference crossover in Country Club Hill

See Full Page