Derrick Rose in High School

Derrick Rose is Chicago. He was born there, learned how to play ball there, became the top college prospect there and is now leading the Bulls to one of their finest seasons in the post-Michael Jordan era. Now the frontrunner for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award (he would become the league's youngest winner in history), here's a look at Rose roughly five years ago when he was still a high schooler at Simeon Career Academy and AAU star with future Clipper Eric Gordon.

Derrick learned how to play from his older brothers Dwayne, Reggie and Allan.

As Rose's mother, Brenda, told Sports Illustrated's George Dohrmann in 2006: "His brothers knew basketball, I didn't. I told them to handle it."

Rose's family controlled nearly every aspect of his high school career and recruiting process to keep him on the right path in Chicago. In fact, Reggie formed his own AAU team, the Meanstreets Express, to coach Derrick.

Rose's brothers guided him through everything, from getting dropped off at school, to monitoring nearly every facet of the recruiting process, which started before Rose even got to high school.

Rose enrolled at Simeon in 2003, but because of a longtime rule by coach Bob Hambric, Rose had to start on the junior varsity squad, and wasn't allowed to speak to media until the end of his junior season.

Rose's numbers jumped from 18.5 points per game to 25.5 from his freshman to senior seasons at Simeon.

Rose's high profile at Simeon helped a number of his teammates earn recognition, as well.

After his junior year of high school, Rose already had a Class AA championship and Tournament MVP under his belt.

With Rose leading the way, Simeon also won back-to-back state titles to become the first Chicago Public League school to achieve the feat. The Wolverines' overall record during Rose's career was 120-12.

During the summers, Rose and Eric Gordon -- then an Indiana prep star -- locked down the backcourt of the Meanstreets Express, leading the AAU team to the 2006 Nike Peach Jam championship, an invitation-only tournament for the country's finest teams.

The Meanstreets Express played against a slew of future NBA stars, including Brandon Jennings, Kevin Love and O.J. Mayo.

At the 2006 Peach Jam tournament, Rose put up 21 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in a matchup with Mayo (not pictured), then considered the best guard in the class of 2007.

Rose was ranked among the top five players in the class of 2007 and was arguably the best player to come out of the Windy City in years.

A month before his impressive showing against Mayo, Rose played with an injured hand -- his shooting hand -- and still managed to score 12 points, using only his left.

In a nationally televised game against Oak Hill, the No. 1 team in the nation, Rose poured in 28 points and nine assists and grabbed eight rebounds in a 78-75 win. He was matched with Brandon Jennings, whom he held to zero points over the first three quarters.

Rose also became known for his impressive dunks at Simeon and with the Meanstreets Express.

Here's more proof.

Among Rose's many accolades in his final year of high school: being named to the USA Today All-USA Team, being selected to the 2007 Parade Magazine All-America Team and being named Illinois' Mr. Basketball by the Chicago Tribune.

Rose was also named the decade's third-best point guard by ESPN RISE, behind Wake Forest prospect Chris Paul and T.J. Ford.

Though he accepted a scholarship from the University of Memphis, Rose only spent a year away from his hometown before being selected with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft, by the Bulls.