READING, Pa. – Wesley Myers isn’t always comfortable telling others what to do, but he’s learning it’s part of his job description as Boys & Girls’ leader.
“When he is vocal, he is very good,” Boys High assistant coach Elmer Anderson said.
The senior, an All-City second team selection by The Post, helped bring the Kangaroos all the way back from an 18-point deficit before finally falling to Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.) in the consolation round of the National Bracket at Hoop Group Team Camp at Albright College on Saturday. Myers finished with 25 points in the 83-79 loss.
“They are young guys,” Myers said. “If I had never put the pressure on them to stick on ‘D’ and force [turnovers], they would have just gave up.”
He converted three 3-point plays, hit two free throws to cut the lead to one with 23 seconds remaining and made life extremely difficult for Gill St. Bernard’s star guard Jaren Sina, who scored the bulk of his 33 points in the first half. The Kangaroos went 1-2 on the day, beating Imhotep Charter (Pa.), 59-51, in double overtime.
His performance against the New Jersey school showed why the dynamic 6-foot-2 guard with the impressive mid-range game has interest from a host of Division I schools including Miami, South Carolina, Stony Brook, Rutgers, Boston College, St. Bonaventure and FIU. Myers has already visited Stony Brook and wants to see Miami and FIU, where former New Heights director Kimani Young is now an assistant coach, during the summer. He plans to commit in April around his birthday and hopes to narrow his list down by the end of the summer.
“Visiting Stony Brook was a great experience,” Myers said. “It was a great atmosphere.”
Anderson said he and head coach Ruth Lovelace have challenged Myers, telling him his senior year will be what he makes it. He already has two city championships and a state Federation Class AA title to his credit.
“You have to get these other kids to play hard because that was how you were able to win,” Anderson said of their message. “You have to lead by example.”
Faison, Owen points of interest for Xaverian: Clippers assistant coach Chris Alesi likened senior point guard Lamel Fasion and junior Raven Owen learning to play together to putting Jason Kidd and Steve Nash in the same backcourt because of their similar abilities.
“It’s going to take time,” Alesi said.
Faison started occasionally last season, but an injured knee cost him the end of the regular season and the playoffs. He is healthy now and showed off just how explosive he can be.
The 5-foot-11 Faison has a quick first step and the ability to control his body in the air. He has excellent court vision and quick hands on the defensive end. Xaverian went 1-3, falling to St. Paul VI (Va.) and Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.), before beating Pope John XXIII (N.J.) by 30 points.
“He is finally healthy now and we think he has a chance to be pretty good,” Alesi said.
Owen is cut from a similar mold, a solid ball hander and shooter who is getting better on the defensive end. He saw time on the varsity off the bench last season and a big jump is expected.
Alesi feels both are capable floor generals and it’s the coaching staffs job to find a way for them to play well together. They should get help from versatile guard George Lambert, a 6-foot-1 senior who is expected to be the team’s leading scorer next season. He already has Division II interest.
“By the time we get to November, it’s a luxury to have two point guards who can both play,” Alesi said.
Notes: Bishop Loughlin split two games, beating Germantown 76-54 and falling to Bishop McNamara 75-54, before heading home, which avoided an all-Brooklyn match up with Jefferson in the National bracket consolation round. The Orange Wave topped Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.), 69-62, and fell to Virginia power St. Paul VI, 91-57.