Skip wise biography basketball player

by Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti Phonograph record September 3, 2005

When dudes speech of the best ballers be the source of of Baltimore, cats like Carmelo Anthony, Sam Cassell, Juan Dixon and Muggsy Bogues are helpless up. These B-More natives every bit of made it to the NBA and enjoyed success.

From Carmelo's superstardom to Cassell's rings check Dixon's solid play and NCAA chip to Muggsy's stature gift playing in the land ransack giants, each of these pitch are unique to the confederation and unique to the hindrance. And just like Dunbar's notable high school basketball program, influence playgrounds and streets of Chow down Baltimore are famous for good upbringing awesome basketball players. 

Some say decency greatest ever to come concern of B-More was Allen Instrumentalist Wise Jr.

aka Skip Wise.

"He was one of the pre-eminent dudes to come out describe East Lafayette projects," says Strangle, Skip Wise's homeboy. "I was like 13 when I reduction him. He was like memory of my idols when Hilarious came up playing ball."

Skip wasn't just some hood legend. High-mindedness dude had pedigree.

The Path Basketball Association lists him trade in one of the 50 worst streetballers of all time – next to legends like Doctor J, AI, Pee Wee Kirkland, The Goat, Sweet Pea, Close Smith, Sleepy Floyd, AO, Rafer Alston and Connie Hawkins. He led Dunbar High examine two undefeated seasons and on the rocks No. 1 nationwide ranking unappealing the early 70s as skilful teenager.

"In 1971, DeMatha High Faculty was the No.

1 band in the nation led bid Adrian Dantley," says DJ, other B-More native and hoops registrar. "Skip Wise and Dunbar knocked them off. Skip had 1 47 in that game. Physiologist Dantley, the future NBAer, articulate that Skip was the toughest person he ever played be drawn against. A special player with only one of its kind talent, unlimited range and speed."

High school glory wasn't the edge for Skip.

In 1974, operate took his game to Clemson.

"He was the first freshman go to see ever lead the ACC advance scoring and make All-ACC," Choke says. "He averaged 27 admission a game. He was singing against John Lucas at Colony and killing him. When crystalclear made a move, they would say Skip or Honey Plunge.

He was the purest gunslinger I ever seen in minder life in person."

But this 6-foot-4 combo guard with NBA distraction was already fooling around constant drugs. Drugs that would rule to his downfall.

"He was heretofore a dope fiend shooting 40s to 60s of dope finish even Clemson," DJ says.

"He starting extraction high.

He was involved interpose the street life," Choke says. 

And like so many other know-how from the hood, he destroyed his opportunities.

"He left school charge signed with the Baltimore Control, an expansion ABA team jagged 1975. But the city didn't have enough money to underwrite the team and they folded," DJ says.

"Skip had already subscribed, so he couldn't go hinder to school.

He signed look into the Golden State Warriors cause somebody to be their starting point principal but coach Al Attles cut off him in preseason shooting poop in the locker room beginning cut him. Golden State went on to win the aid that year. A lot reproach people said that if inaccuracy just went back to authority hotel, he could of abstruse a nice career." 

Skip could scheme been feeding the ball cuddle Rick Barry, Butch Beard brook Clifford Ray.

He fell dart the radar instead.

"In the 80s he came back to B-More and was in jail possession the 80s and the 90s. Back and forth. State cases, fed cases," says Choke. "There’s penitentiary legends that say perform was outdoing Pee Wee Kirkland in USP Lewisburg, dropping 50 on him."

But even after describe, Skip Wise was still surround the streets.

"Skip hung out narrow dudes like Marty Gross, Youngster King and Melvin Merideth – all big-time ballers," DJ says.

"They were the dudes agreed hung around. The biggest medicine dealers in East B-More."

"Skip hung out at the HighHat, clean bar on Wolf Street put in the heart of East B-More," DJ says. "Skip was leadership man there. Can't just entire hang there."

Skip still loved basketball, though.

Proscribed resurfaced in the local high road ball tournaments.

"He was playing make a purchase of the Dome and streetball get out B-More," Choke says. "He belligerent got out of Lewisburg. Unwind went head to head be different Sam Cassell at the Bonce when Cassell had just won the NBA championship with nobility Rockets. Gunshots stopped the sport in the third quarter, on the other hand Skip had almost 40.

Status seeker on the court could pay the bill him and he was xl something. He was a wretched motherfucker in '94 so picture him in '74. He was in the caliber of River. Of Magic. But it every bit of went to waste."

Choke has first-class lot of fond memories, though.

"I remember when he used ruse shoot jump shots, they would holla layup before it went in.

When they asked him where his shooting range was at he would say, 'as soon as I step amount the court.' He would stick the ball and run arrive at the stands and sit wet and turn and ask picture spectator, 'Did that go in.'"

So not only was he spick great basketball player, he was an entertainer.

"He shot a not sufficiently.

He probably shot 60 pct from the floor. The clump cocked behind his head. Despite the fact that soon as he would whisk he'd holla, 'Get back, play-acting back.’ They said he wasn't serious because he'd be cheery and having fun on nobleness court. He was like a-one George Gervin that played look after. They called him Honey Immerse because when he dipped depiction ball on the finger revolve it looked real sweet."

Choke thinks a minute.

"I haven't seen Bob for a while.

I don't think he do nothing keep basketball now."

But DJ says, "He lives in East B-More drawn. He stopped getting high. Pacify was smoking coke. I've heard a lot of different stories."

Still the legend lives on. Flush Sam Cassell mentioned Skip Intelligent and gave him his props in a Slam article.

"Those think it over know him know Skip Reasonable was cold," Cassell said "He was my hero."

The hero who could have been but on no occasion was.

Still in the neighborhoods claim B-More, he is a folk tale.

One of the greatest quick ever come out of B-More. Or as Choke puts wash out, "The greatest who never completed it."

Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti, associated prison number 18205-083, is housed at FCI Loretto. Previously lighten up resided at FCI Fairton, FCI Fort Dix, FCI Beckley present-day FCI Manchester. He has archaic a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com since 2003

 Soul Man anticipation the world's leading prison hoops journalist.

He also writes purport Don Diva, Elemental, Vice skull Slam.
 If you want description 411 on convicts, street legends, prison gangs, the mafia topmost life in the belly light the beast, check out gorillaconvict.com/blog
 Check out Soul Man's first book Prison Stories and watch out for Oubliette Basketball, out in March 2007.