LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tucked away in quiet Beaufort County was a gem named Edrice “Bam” Adebayo. As his raw talent and size took the area, and all of North Carolina, by storm, he helped Northside High School become one of the best 1-A programs in the state by the time he was a junior.

The 2014-15 season saw Northside win more than 20 games and go as far as the semifinals in the state playoffs. Adebayo ruled the court, averaging 32.2 points, 21 rebounds and 4.5 blocks a game. In front of a raucous crowd in the Crown Arena in Fayetteville, Adebayo erupted for 37 points, 23 rebounds and seven blocks to help push the Panthers past Voyager Academy, 66-62 in overtime, in the quarterfinal.

Northside lost its next game to East Carteret, which went on to win the 1-A crown. Adebayo still put on a show as he had 20 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and five blocks against the Mariners.

The Panthers were sent home, but it wasn’t long before Adebayo would take center stage again — this time on a national level.

Fast forward less than two years and Adebayo is a key cog at Kentucky. He’s averaging a clip over 13 points and seven rebounds a game, and doing so against some of the best young players in the world.

Adebayo said that he’s done his best not to get too caught up in the moment during his freshman season. He’s focused on simply doing what it takes to make the Wildcats successful. Even so, he had one game he surely looked forward to: a Dec. 7 meeting with North Carolina.

“It was a really good experience,” he said. “Just seeing a bunch of guys I knew from back home, it was fun to compete against a bunch of guys that you knew.”

It turned out to be a thriller. Malik Monk scored 47 points on the Tar Heels in a 103-100 win. Adebayo chipped in 13 points and had seven boards.

Adebayo’s work ethic has played just as much a role in his success as his natural skill. It’s something that, dating back to early in his career, has never gone unnoticed.

“Every rep that he’s done in practice since his freshman year has been full tilt,” said Northside coach Mike Proctor. “Some people take some practice time off, reps off, and don’t go as hard. Every time he’d pump fake and go under, like he does right now dunking, it was like he was working out for some college. Every rep he’s ever done in that gym has been as hard as he can possibly go. That just says wonders about his character and how his mom raised him.”

Adebayo added, “Just getting in the gym matters. … I’ve been trying to get my body right by eating healthier and getting stronger. If you’re not in shape, you can’t play here. We run a lot, and we run in transition. If you’re out of shape, you can’t play.”

Proctor knows so much more about Adebayo than just the work he does off the court and how it translates to his performance in a game. The two have a much deeper relationship than just coach and player. Their bond gives Proctor insight into those intangibles that aren’t seen in a way a person plays basketball, but are still important to how far Adebayo has gone and how much further his career can take him.

“Bam has spent some time at my house, he’s eaten at my house, we’ve taken him fishing. He’s just a great young man,” Proctor said. “And obviously, he’s a great basketball player. He’s a better person than he is a basketball player. I love him like a son, and I’d do anything for the boy.”

Adebayo added, “Coach Proctor is a really good guy. Going back to those days, I had fun. He coached us hard. Time flies.”

Like it is for so many players, basketball is a family. Adebayo was like a son to Proctor, and to Northside teammate Jabari Ashe, he’s like a brother.

“We both come from a small town, so to be able to sit down and turn on ESPN … It’s kind of weird, but I’ve gotten used to it now,” Ashe said. “Even though he’s at Kentucky, we’re still close. We’re still together. … We’re like brothers. We talk every day.”

It’s those qualities that are only seen off the court that made Adebayo a coveted college prospect. Now he’s at the center of one of the NCAA’s most successful programs. His approach is only going to take him further in his career.

“His best days of basketball are still in front of him. He’s learning every day,” Wildcats assistant Tony Barbee said. “He comes to practice to learn and to work every single day. I haven’t seen him take a day off since he’s been here.

“So when you’ve got that kind of physical talent and you have that kind of mental approach to the game that ‘I can always learn and get better,’ it’s scary to think where he’s going to be in the years to come.”

It’s not an exaggeration. Adebayo has a rare combination of size and natural talent, as well as a never-ending drive to improve that brings it all together. The latter half of his freshman campaign still lies ahead. A showdown with No. 3 Kansas on Jan. 28 highlights the remainder of the regular season, and Adebayo’s Wildcats have what it takes to make a run at an NCAA Championship come March.

Adebayo has made quite the impression for someone from rural North Carolina. There’s no telling what’s still left for him to accomplish.