DeaMonte Trayanum: The Future Is Mine
DeaMonte Trayanum — Archbishop Hoban High School — Arizona State University Commit
Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, DeaMonte Trayanum didn’t initially channel his athletic ability onto the football field. Instead, he chose the blacktop. Anytime he could get shots up with his friends, you’d find him on the basketball court. That all changed when one of his neighbors drove him to the practice field for tryouts. From then on, he’s had his eye on the future and what he could make of it.
The most significant part of that future involves his family. His mother, Shereefa Cameron, works in the Emergency Room Registration Department of a hospital in downtown Akron. It was difficult sometimes because she worked the night shift, but they managed to make it work. Growing up, he “saw how hard she worked and the sacrifices she made.” Now, he says, “I want to show that it was all worth it.” When his mother was working or otherwise taking care of family obligations, DeaMonte’s grandmother and great-grandmother were his caretakers. They kept him in line and taught him right from wrong. “They brought me up in the church,” he said, “it’s why I have the morals and manners I do.”
Because of his mother’s sacrifice, he was able to explore his options, including AAU track for three years, something that helped him improve his speed and burst on the field. What stoked the fire of his flame to succeed, was watching others in Akron find their own path to success. Like many kids in Ohio, DeaMonte idolized former Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James. Whether it was a picture on the wall or rocking Lebron’s shoe brand, Trayanum used the current Laker as inspiration for his own journey. DeaMonte was able to see LeBron use his talent to create opportunities for his community and be successful in endeavors outside his sport.
Unsurprisingly, when asked about his passion outside of football, Trayanum said “people.” His community is more than just his family and teammates, it’s everyone who he comes in contact with and supports him. He digresses: “I wasn’t that guy hanging out with only my teammates and certain groups. I’m cool with the janitors, secretaries…anyone.” He knows he can relate to almost anyone. “Everyone goes through trials and tribulations, just in different forms,” he says, “you just have to connect through that.”
A major part of his community are his teammates at Archbishop Hoban High School. Particularly, he recalls his Junior Year State Championship game. It was against Massillon Washington High School, a team that came into that game 14-0. Their fans came out in droves to support Hoban’s opponent. DeaMonte admits, “for me that was a huge game for my relationship with my teammates.” After that game, the opportunity to celebrate with them after a 42-28 win was something I’ll always remember. I’ll always be able to look back at the pictures we took after the game and remember how hard we played for that win.” He still has a photo of him and a teammate from that game framed in his room.
Off the field, the locker room environment was crucial for DeaMonte. He lauded his high school coaching staff for knowing what he could be before he did. “They saw something in me early,” he recalls “they knew the type of person I was and the player I could become.” As he progressed as a player, he also wanted to fulfill his role as a locker room leader. On the field, he tried to lead by example. When asked what his thought process would be if a referee made a bad call, DeaMonte said, “well if I play to perfection, he won’t be able to make that call”. Off the field, he built strong relationships with teammates and eventually was deemed worthy of becoming captain. He knows there’s added pressure that comes with that responsibility, but as long as he takes a second to breathe and think about what he has to do to reach his goals, he knows, it’ll all work out. More importantly, he finds solace in how his teammates always managed to have a good time, especially during post-game dance battles.
DeaMonte knows he’s talented. There’s a reason so many at Hoban call him “Chip.” It’s not because of his love of Chips Ahoy Cookies, although he has a sweet tooth, but rather a nickname one of his coaches gave him for being a “blue chip” football prospect. Yet, he’s also highly invested in his academic and personal life, believing balance is the key to happiness. He wants to buck the trend of people who think football players aren’t smart. “School always came easy to me,” he said. After finishing his time at Hoban with a nearly 4.0 GPA, he still believes it could’ve been higher. He’s now set his sights on graduating in three years and getting a masters in four. He knows every decision he makes will impact his future and that the harder he works, the more good things will come to him.
“There was a balance. [Mom] wanted me to have an open mind, but also told me whatever happens is supposed to happen.”
That attitude is what ignited a long recruiting trail for DeaMonte and Shereefa. “We visited a lot of schools,” he said, “my mom was just amazed by how rigorous it all was, particularly the different approaches by coaching staffs.” For Shereefa, her only goal was to make sure her son made the right choice for him. DeaMonte recalls: “she wanted me to take my time and just take it visit by visit. There was a balance. She wanted me to have an open mind, but also told me whatever happens is supposed to happen. This is already written.”
Although Ohio State was an option at that point, has a strong NFL pipeline, and would be closer to home, DeaMonte wanted something different from what he had known. As much as he’ll miss his friends in Ohio, they know he’s made the best decision for himself and his family. They’ve already begun plans to visit him sometime this season.
DeaMonte was focused on a bigger picture for his family and chose where he believed he could both personally and professionally succeed. It wasn’t about initial playing time or championships. It was about where he sees his life half a decade down the road. That’s why he chose to play at Arizona State. He did so at Head Coach Herman Edwards’ apartment in Tempe, but kept that decision private until speaking with other schools. The coaching staff, led by Edwards, was key to DeaMonte’s decision to choose ASU. Says Trayanum, “they’ve built a culture there, where you can become a professional and prepare you for the next level, but they also care about you as a person.” He’s hoping that culture plus a degree in economics could help him when his playing career is over, maybe even giving him an opportunity to be the next NFL Commissioner.
When DeaMonte first arrived at ASU, in January, he wanted to go in with an open mind. Unlike many recruits, he didn’t text current players asking a multitude of questions about how to acclimate to the school, instead choosing to keep in touch with a few from his recruiting class. If he was going to travel across the country and experience something new, he wanted to get that knowledge first-hand and with open arms. Since moving to Tempe, he’s already become more independent. “It’s a totally different vibe,” he says, “I already have a sense of pride and accomplishment.”
He’ll look to build on that sense of individuality with his support system nearby, as his mother is planning a move to Arizona in May. His grandmother, great-grandmother and twelve year-old sister, Syncere, will accompany her. He’s looking forward to having them only a short drive away. They all eagerly await their new environment.
Coming from northeast Ohio, they know how rough coping with Midwest winters can be. In Arizona, the frigid wind and snow will become a thing of the past. Now there’s nothing but sunny days ahead, something that DeaMonte knows is a sign of one thing…a bright future.