By Daniel Rigdon / Sports Writer
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN —
Hakeem Wesley spent the 2009-2010 basketball season making a name for himself by leading Newton County to the MHSAA Class 4A Sweet Sixteen where its season was ended by eventual state champion Bay High School. Wesley's play, however, did not go unnoticed and he has been named to the Mississippi Association of Coaches' All-Star Game presented by Mississippi Sports Medicine. The game will take place at A. E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton.
Wesley put up impressive numbers as a junior averaging 24.6 points-per-game. He also hung a career-high 40 points on Neshoba Central.
"He was our leading scorer this year," said Newton County coach Steve Harber. "He averaged right at 25 points a game and he was our go-to guy last year. The other players just seemed to feed off him. He is so versatile and can play the one, two or three guard and did a real good job for me."
Hakeem is very honored and excited about the weekend's upcoming All-Star festivities.
"I'm excited about getting up there," said Wesley. "Its a honor to get chosen and to be able to play in this game."
Harber also recognizes what an honor it is for his star to be chosen to participate in a game that will showcase possibly the most talented group of rising seniors in Mississippi in years.
"Its a big honor for him," said Harber. "We felt like he was really deserving. I knew that it was a strong junior class coming up. We talked about that after he made it and talked about how big of an honor it was for him to get that. He was very deserving.
"I've coached in this game before and I told Hakeem to just go over there and make some friends and have fun. I think he's really looking forward to it. This will be something he will never forget being able to play in this game with this group of guys."
Wesley will also participate in the 3-point shootout competition scheduled for Friday night.
