Individuality is a marketing ploy. Very,very few people make decisions driven by what you would call individuality. Most people make decisions based on a number of factors, such as social norms, beliefs about the outcome of the decision, and peripheral preferences such as weather, prestige, proximity, relationships, etc. Of these social norms are probably the strongest for a high school kid. Believe me, I am raising one. Even the ones who believe they are being individuals, are most often just following the norms of a specific social clique.
Today the norms in basketball are not about going and starting something of you own. They are about joining up with the best players and winning on the biggest stages. Ask LaBron, Carmello, and Bosh about this. For that matter, in a few years ask Howard, Durant, and Mr. Dunk Champ about it.