Beane is a name synonymous with SIU basketball, but there is another Beane in Carbondale hoping to make a name for himself.

Darius Beane, a freshman at Carbondale High School, is a varsity basketball player with aspirations of playing basketball at the collegiate level.

Beane comes from a family of basketball aficionados. His father, Anthony Beane Sr. is an assistant coach at SIU and his brother, Anthony Beane Jr. is a junior guard for the Salukis.

Darius said his family allows him to develop his game.

“My dad helps me a lot,” he said. “He will take me to the weight room and watch film with me. My brother helps too. We play one-on-one when we have the chance.”

Darius said once he gets to college, he will have no problem following the Beane family tradition.

Anthony Jr. said he has seen a big difference between the youngest Beane’s play in middle school and high school.

“I didn’t think [Darius] could get that good that quick,” he said. “It’s amazing.”

He said the most impressive part of Darius’s game is his basketball knowledge and how quickly he can pick up on things.

Anthony Sr. said Darius already has good vision on the court.

“For his age right now, he sees the floor really well and the game seems to be easier for him,” he said. “He’s unselfish and athletic.”

Anthony Jr. said he is not able to help his brother as much now that he is in college, but he knows his dad will mold him into a great player.

“I can already see improvements in his all-around game like his jump shot and his defense,” Anthony Jr. said. “It helps that he is growing too.”

Anthony Sr. said he works with Darius on his shooting, ball handling and defensive work as much as possible.

Darius said he spends a lot of his time in the gym.

“I know I still have a long way to go,” he said. “I’m just trying to get better every day.”

This summer Darius was invited to California to take part in Chris Paul’s CP3 camp. He played in the final game of the camp, which featured the top 20 players.

Anthony Jr. said he was proud of Darius for not only being invited but for holding his own with the other competition.

Anthony Sr. said he has to work with Darius on skill development.

“It’s all about skill development,” he said. “The higher level you play, the more it will show if you don’t have skill. When you get to senior year and interested in college, you won’t stand out if you don’t have the skills.”

Darius already has colleges interested in him, including SIU, Ohio State and Michigan.

Darius said he does not let the college attention distract him. He said he still has a long way to go.

“Going forward, he’ll continue getting more and more offers,” Anthony Sr. said. “He knows it’s just for motivation right now and that it’s not serious until the offer is on the table. He’s done a really good job of keeping his focus on getting better through high school.”

Both his older brother and his father were drawn to SIU because of the program’s tradition, they think Darius enjoys it as well.

Anthony Jr. said when he signed with the Salukis, Darius mentioned he liked the intensity of the crowd and how much the fans interacted with the team at the games.

“I would like to see [Darius] play here, but I guess time will tell,” he said. “In the meantime, I need to be there for him when he needs me. I have been through it all before, so I can help him with any questions he has.”