As he’s moved up the ranks in his basketball career, LSU junior forward Jalen Courtney can’t remember when he’s ever been the guy.

Not garnering the attention of returning teammates Anthony Hickey and Johnny O’Bryant III, Courtney admitted flying under the radar is something he’s become all too familiar with.

Overshadowed in high school by teammate junior Andre Stringer — a fellow Jackson, Miss., native — and former Ole Miss star Dundrecous Nelson, Courtney said the duo forced him to focus only on what it took to win.

“I just tried to take it day by day and do what my team needed me to do in order to get wins,” Courtney said. “Flying under the radar here, it’s just a bigger stage.”

Stringer pointed to his days of AAU with Courtney, when he would sometimes be overshadowed by better in-state prospects.

Watching Courtney overcome such adversity in middle school and high school, Stringer said the confidence in the teammate he’s been close to since middle school is at an all-time high.

“We had guys from all over the state, from different states, that can play and he held his own,” Stringer said. “Knowing what type of guy he is, I’m sure he’ll rise to the top.”

As most of his teammates packed up for home to relax for summer vacation, Courtney had another goal in mind.

“I was trying to get bigger than LeBron [James],” Courtney said.

The 6-foot-8 junior forward used the personalized workouts with new strength coach Rick Lefebvre to cast aside the injury problems that plagued him in his first two seasons.

“Every single day he comes in with a new mindset of ‘How can I get this guy where he wants to be?’” Courtney said. “He specifies everything to where I can be the best I can be, and I think that was the greatest blessing of all.”

Still hampered by injuries that have cost him some practice time to begin this season, Courtney is making an impression on new coach Johnny Jones even when not on the court.

“I think Jalen has a lot to offer, he has some leadership abilities and great qualities,” Jones said. “I know he’s been overshadowed and a lot of guys have gotten to play in front of him.”

Remarking he could play 40 minutes per game or hand out water on the bench, Courtney has learned trivial matters aren’t a source of worry for him, asserting he’ll do anything to help his team win.

“I feel like in the past, guys have focused on starting positions and guys have focused on things that don’t really matter at the end of the day,” Courtney said. “I don’t want this year to be that, by any means.