Freire Charter tops Hope Charter

Malik Wesley is forever trying to make sure all's going well with Freire Charter's basketball program.

When necessary, he'll bark at teammates and tell them what they need to do better. And since Wesley favors a scowl and boasts umpteen tattoos, everyone obeys.

Ah, but this 6-foot, 165-pound wing guard owns a soft side and he showed it Tuesday before the Dragons humbled visiting Hope Charter, 62-43, in a Public C contest.

The occasion was Senior Day and the festivities were not exactly lengthy. Three female managers and two players, Wesley and forward Chris Lawhorn, were introduced to loud applause and then Wesley grabbed the microphone.

He ended his remarks with, "Let's do our thing to get this W!" Beforehand, though, he expressed heartfelt thanks to coach John Brown.

"I wasn't scheduled to speak," Wesley said. "I just felt it was something I had to do. I had to thank coach JB for the simple fact he has given me so much help in my time here.

"Everything I've needed, he has done it for me. He was an English major, so he showed me how to write papers. And any time I needed a ride home from practice, he made sure that happened. He's been a second father to me."

Wesley contributed 17 points, four rebounds and three apiece of assists/steals to what became a gimme quite early; the first-quarter score was 19-2.

At this time last year, looking forward to such production would have been impossible. This is Wesley's second go-round as a senior; he was approved for an extra year of eligibility by a District 12 committee that decides such matters.

Wesley's life has included both academic and family struggles. Even of recent vintage.

Just last October, Malik was on the front steps of his Southwest Philly home (right near one of his previous schools, John Bartram High) when his brother, Marquis, walking back from the nearest corner, was shot.

"He's OK now, but that was pretty traumatic," Malik said. "I rode with him to the hospital and I had to keep talking to him, trying to keep him [conscious]. He got shot in a main artery. Scary."

At first, so was the eligibility hearing.

"I never had to sit down in front of a bunch of people who were going to make an evaluation about me," he said. "But some of the men were laughing, so I could see they were friendly. That made me feel better about my chances."

Meanwhile, back to Tuesday . . .

Just seconds after he wrapped up his remarks, Wesley showed he meant business by burying a fadeaway trey from a spot maybe 4 feet from where he'd been holding the microphone.

Freire, at 2027 Chestnut Street, plays in a classic bandbox - the court is no longer than 60 feet - and if Wesley had fallen another couple steps backward, he would have smacked right into a padded pillar.

Wesley scored 10 of his points in the first half, thoroughly entertaining maybe 35 students who were crammed onto a stage right behind the basket at the gym's north end. His best moment in the second half was a drive for a three-point play. While absorbing body contact, he kept the ball tucked behind his right ear and then flipped it in before returning to the floor.

Holy Family and Lincoln Memorial, in Tennessee, are showing interest in Wesley, though a year of prep school might be in his future.

"When teams play us man, I try to make sure everybody's set up in the right spot," Wesley said, describing his role. "LaQuan Alston is our point guard, but I know all the plays by heart. Once I know everything's the way it should be, then we'll start and I'll look for my treys or to get picks for drives."

Jahyde Gardiner, a soph with face-up and back-to-the-basket skills, was impressive while adding 20 points and 14 rebounds for Freire. Carlton Wright had 11 points, four assists and three steals.

For Hope, which missed best-player Nafee Hardy (ankle injury), Jalil Shafi (14 points, 10 boards) and Bruce Clements (nine, 11) had some inside success and point guard Frank Briggs hustled for 10 points, seven boards and four apiece of assists/steals.

Malik Wesley's mom, Markia, accompanied him for the pregame ceremony.

"She's a single mother of six kids, so it's not easy," Malik said. "She keeps me motivated and focused. Tries to get me anything I need. Between my mom and coach JB, I'm set."