Wesley Wilson

Jersey Number:
Height/Weight: 6'11" 235 lbs.
Age: 28
Date of Birth: 1980
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Position: Center
High School: Maine Central Institute
College: Georgetown University
Teams played for in the PBA: Shell Turbochargers (2005)

Basketball Career:

He's got a heart for the sport and is passionate when he talks about it. Basketball is second nature to him with his towering frame and agile body coupled with hoop skills that match the challenge of the sport. He is Wesley Wilson, Sta. Lucia Realtors’ import for the 2008 PBA Fiesta conference.

Wilson was considered a vital cog as a high school player at Maine Central Institute in Vallejo, California, in 1998-99. He enrolled at Georgetown the next season but sat out the campaign due to NCAA restrictions. The Georgetown’s hoop factory produced players such as Pat Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Allen Iverson and former Shell import Jameel Watkins.

While playing for Hoyas varsity coach Craig Esherick, he showed flashes of promise in his first year of collegiate basketball as a sophomore. Together with a 6-8 260 pound forward Mike Sweetney, they became known as Georgetown Hoya’s 1-2 punch.

Wilson’s debut was described by writer Michael Bradley as "solid" and Georgetown roared to a 16-0 start enroute to its first Sweet 16 finish since 1996. He hit at a 5.5 clip and grabs 3.3 rebounds per game in 12.1 minutes a game, shooting .482 from the field and .554 from the line.

"He is capable of strong interior defense, good rebounding and fine scoring close to the hoop," said Bradley. "He’s not just a banger. He can move, too. Wilson is a mobile big man who can defend well and runs the floor like someone a few inches shorter. He comes with a body most players would envy and the willingness to mix it up inside."

For three years, Wilson averaged close to double figures and had an above average shooting percentage from the floor. He culminated his career with the Hoyas in 2003 when they lost a close 70-67 decision to St. John’s University in the National Invitation Tournament finals.

He gained some experience in pro basketball by playing in CBA, ABA, Germany and Puerto Rico. He also played with the Turkish professional team, Besiktas Jimnastik ve Spor Kulubu, during the 2003-2004 seasons before he was tapped by the now defunct Shell Turbochargers to beef them up in the 2005 PBA Fiesta Cup. He played only 10 games before he contracted calf and foot injuries and was replaced by Jamaican Ajani Williams.

He was not drafted by any NBA team. The closest he got to playing with the NBA was when he played for Charlotte and Cleveland in summer leagues. He recently played for the SK Knights in Korea, the L. A. Defenders in the NBDL and Fujian in China before joining Gelisim Koleji, a pro team in the Turkish league, last 10 February 2008.

According to Sports Illustrated, Wilson,

• owns great touch for such a huge specimen


• smartly keeps the ball high and takes it right back up for baskets off rebounds
  


• has considerable maneuverability to get to the goal with his back to the basket with spin moves, but he needs to better work on setting up his man with ball fakes


• a little bit reckless in attacking the basket at times


• poor defensive rebounder and must do better job of sealing his man off on the boards


• legitimate shot-blocking threat

Wilson's agent Ben Pensack described him as "a very athletic big man who runs the court as well as anyone his size, a great shot blocker (who) can also knock down the 15-foot jumpshot with ease."

Former PBA commissioner Noli Eala said Wilson once told him his goal is for fans to always remember No. 33, his jersey number with the Shell Turbochargers.

"He’s very determined to make a good impression," noted Eala. "In China, he recounted how he once embarrassed Batere Mengke by dunking on him seven times in a game."

Impassioned and serious about his work, Wesley expressed (in a calm and relaxed manner) his commitment for the Turbochargers in 2005 to become better. "I am committed to make this team better. Take it one step at a time. That's how you make the team better," says Wesley in an inspiring tune. "You play one game at a time, one win at a time. Then after you get the one win at a time, that's when you look at the whole picture and say that's the realistic aspect of it all. Look at it (situation) realistically and find out what we are to do to make this team a championship team."

Statistics:

Wilson averaged 12.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots as a high school player at Maine Central Institute in Vallejo, California, in 1998-99.

In 2000-01, Wilson’s He hit at a 5.5 clip in 12.1 minutes a game, shooting .482 from the field and .554 from the line.

In 2001-02, as part of Hoya’s 1-2 punch, Wilson averaged 12.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocked shots and 25.5 minutes as Georgetown posted a 19-11 record. He shot .563 from the floor and .619 from the stripe.

As a senior in 2002-03, Wilson averaged 6.6 points and 4.9 rebounds. His field goal clip was .469 and free throw mark, .571.

While playing for Gelisim recently, Wilson averaged 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 shot blocks.

In the first four games of the Turbochargers in 2005, Wilson averaged 31.5 points per game. After playing only 10 games for the Turbochargers, he averaged 28.6 points, 13.9 rebounds and 2.6 shot blocks.

Fun Facts:

Wilson is the focus of a chapter in the book "Sole Influence," a revealing look inside the involvement of shoe companies in amateur basketball.

Wilson is scared of airplanes, likes to have Honey Bunches of Oats for breakfast, idolizes Michael Jordan and would love to have a vacation in South Africa.