Patience is a virtue when you’re part of the star system at Jordan High School.

The long line of standouts, which includes current college players Lavon Myers, Rodney Hudson, James Boyd and Franklin Session, produced by the highly successful boys basketball program all waited their turns while serving a form of apprenticeship for the talented upperclassmen who got to showcase their talents as the main scorer.

Christopher Ashanti is the latest Bulldog following a similar career path for coach Van Myers, now in his seventh year in charge of the program.

More of a facilitator last season when Boyd, currently on football scholarship at USC, was the go-to-guy, Ashanti has stepped into the lead role seamlessly.

“He’s a four-year varsity starter who’s waited his turn, waited for his accolades,” Myers said. “Now he’s the next star we’re looking to move on to college.”

Ashanti’s demeanor, according to Myers, has been a benefit as he’s played the waiting game.

“He’s a humble kid who handles adversity well,” he said. “He’s a great athlete with a great work ethic and the ability to handle adversity. His father (Michael Sr.) died when he was in the sixth grade. Kids with no father figure in their life often have behavior problems, but he doesn’t.

“I attribute that to the way he was brought up by his parents. His father always talked to him about education. His mother (Rhonda) has always been there for him.”

Ashanti credits his close-knit family, which includes four brothers, for his value system.

“We’re all very close, brothers, cousins, uncles,” he said. “My father was very particular about education. He went to UCLA and was a respiratory therapist. I have an older brother who played at Compton College. He’s always pushed me to get better on the basketball court.”

Myers is another influential adult in his life.

Ashanti has played on Myers’ AAU travel ball teams since the age of eight and that familiarity influenced him to continue the bond he had built with his coach at the high school located in Watts.

“He’s been like a father figure to me,” Ashanti said. “He’s always pushed me to do better on and off the court. He’s a feisty coach and those kind of coaches bring out the best in me. That’s why I came here. I knew he would make me better.”

Ashanti is clear about his career path in mind.

“I know what I want to be in life,” he said. “I definitely want to play at a (NCAA) Division I school. I want basketball to take me as far as it can take me. As far as education goes, I’m interested in medicine and science and becoming a respiratory therapist like my father.”

Only Cal State Dominguez Hills and some other Division II schools have shown much interest in the 6-foot-4 Ashanti, who plays inside and outside in Jordan’s system. Myers hopes he starts to catch the eyes of Division I programs as the season progresses.

Still, there are things he needs to work on to get a top-level scholarship.

“He needs to work on his strength and overall quickness,” Myers said. “He has to work on his ballhandling and passing and could be a more consistent 3-point shooter. At the Division I level he’s going to be a 2-guard. At Division II, he could be a 3 (small forward).”

There’s plenty on the plus side, however.

“He has a high basketball IQ, which is a gift,” Myers said. “Whatever school gets him is getting a steal. They’re getting a good student (he carries a 3.5 grade point average) and a good kid.”

Despite still being a bit hampered by a dislocated right shoulder suffered during the fall league, Ashanti is averaging 21 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots per game for a Jordan team looking to win its seventh consecutive Eastern League title under Myers.

The Bulldogs are 12-9 overall and 6-0 in league following Monday’s hard-fought 64-59 victory over visiting Garfield. Ashanti had 25 points and eight rebounds.

Ashanti is thinking bigger than just another league title, however.

“I want to get a Division I scholarship and win a (City) championship and I think we have the talent to do it,” he said. “We all definitely still have to pick it up, including me. But we have a good coaching staff that pushes us.”