Donovan Juzang is more than just a YouTube star for Marian Catholic. On the court? ‘He wants the ball in his hands.’

Marian Catholic’s Donovan Juzang has a YouTube channel with 31,300 subscribers.

The senior guard puts up stories, comedy and even a one-on-one basketball challenge and victory against FlightReacts, who has more than four million subscribers.

He’s also picking up fame for his videos, done under the name DonJ, even after away games.

“People ask for my autograph all the time,” Juzang said. “I’m always taking pictures with people.”

But there’s more to Juzang than YouTube. Take, for example, his effort Tuesday night during a 47-41 East Suburban Catholic Conference win in overtime over Marist in Chicago.

The 5-foot-10 Juzang scored 21 points and added seven rebounds for Marian Catholic (23-7, 11-5). Quentin Jones added 13 points.

Kaden White led Marist (23-7, 12-4) with 12 points in its regular-season finale.

Juzang did his best work after the RedHawks took a 40-34 lead with 4:10 left in regulation. He scored eight points, including a steal in OT that put the Spartans ahead 45-41.

It was almost a highlight-reel dunk for Juzang. And it trumps any of the videos with FlightReacts or eating a hot chip or seeing rapper Kendrick Lamar backstage.

“He was thinking about dunking it,” Marian Catholic coach Mike Taylor said. “But then he thought, ‘If I miss it, coach is really going to me mad at me,’ so he dropped it in.

“But he stepped up for us (Tuesday night). He has gotten to the point where he wants the ball in his hands.”

Jones was also happy with Juzang’s performance.

“He plays with energy every game,” Jones said. “If his shot isn’t falling, I know he’s going to put energy into his defense or whatever he can do. He really had it going and I’m proud of him.”

Juzang said he is distantly related to NBA player Johnny Juzang but has never had the chance to meet him.

“They told me I am his cousin, but it goes down in the family tree a lot,” Donovan said. “I actually just found about it a few years ago when he was at UCLA and getting hot.”

Speaking of hot, the Spartans have won nine of their last 10 games heading into Thursday night’s regular-season game at home against De La Salle.

Marian’s defense is blistering hot right now, allowing just 30 points Friday to Niles Notre Dame and then only 41 points in 36 minutes against Marist.

“We really make it a priority to go out and guard every time,” said Jones, a Cal Poly recruit. “We’re not the biggest team, so sometimes we have to use our speed to pressure a lot of teams.

“We can wear some teams down who might not be conditioned for it. We are conditioned well, and we keep doing what we’re doing.”

Heading into next week’s postseason, Marian Catholic has the third seed in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional and plays 14th-seeded Richards at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Ag Science.

Marist, which drew the fourth seed in the Class 4A St. Rita Sectional, will face off at 6 p.m. Wednesday against 13th-seeded Sandburg at Bloom.

Juzang, who lives in Matteson, is not sure where he’s in the recruiting process.

“I heard from a few colleges, but I’ll see what I can get,” he said. “I just have to keep playing well.”

He’s also crossing his fingers for a deep run into the playoffs.

“We’re definitely hot at the right time,” Juzang said. “We just have to keep putting in the work in practice and see where we go.

“We’re ready to get down state and hopefully win the state championship.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.