SANTA ANA, Calif. – Every great athlete has a killer instinct, the ability to take over a game and lead their team.

Mater Dei Point Guard Devin Askew is no different.

“On the court, I don’t care if you’re my best friend. I talk a lot of trash talk. All of it,” says Askew.

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Today, he is a five-star recruit, at 6’3” and 200 lbs he is the guard who sees the floor with a high basketball IQ.

But it wasn’t always that way. Askew’s winning mentality on the court has a lot to do with the fact that growing up, he played against his older brother and he had to earn everything he got.

“My older brother and some of the friends I have. When I was younger I wasn’t really that good at basketball and they would kill me, just demolish me. It was bad. And they wouldn’t hold anything against me. And when I started getting good, I was like why should I hold anything against anyone else? It’s not going to do them any better, and it’s not going to do me any good,” says Askew.

But Askew’s skill grew quickly to say the least. He is committed to one of the most illustrious programs in college basketball, Kentucky, and as this picture would foreshadow with one of the most storied coaches, Jon Calipari.

“Honestly I didn’t know much about Kentucky growing up until I got into high school basketball and I followed it a little more, and it’s been cool. It’s been shocking to see where I was and now where I am. I feel like I’m ready,” Askew says.

And while an offer to play at Kentucky is filled with expectations in itself, Askew’s choice to reclassify his grade level and get to college a year early, speaks to the laser-like focus he brings to the game.

“I want to play college basketball, and I want to play college basketball at the highest level as soon as possible. And that’s why I reclassified. All the accolades and stuff like that that comes with it - like even though I reclassified I miss out on some things - I don’t care. I want to get to my goals as fast as possible,” Askew says.

That switch flips between the lines.

“In between those lines I hate you. That’s just what it is,” says Askew.

Turning on the ability to take over.