Jayson Tatum, Matthew Tkachuk Champ Material At Young Age ... Ex-Gym Teacher Says
![](https://imagez.tmz.com/image/93/16by9/2024/06/26/939302b0717f43d9bd8043703a9edf59_md.jpg)
Jayson Tatum and Matthew Tkachuk were destined to be world champions ... so says their former middle school gym teacher, who tells TMZ Sports he recognized long ago that there was something special about the two.
The Boston Celtics hooper and Florida Panthers left winger -- who both won their respective titles in the NBA and NHL this month -- both attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, MO as kids ... and Michael Derkits -- who also coached Tatum on the basketball team -- got an early look at their potential.
Derkits said Tatum and Tkachuk hit it off as soon as the former transferred to Chaminade as a 7th grader ... and he credits to them having similar personalities.