TJ Senior Wesley Price focuses on grades and being a leader on the TJ boys’ basketball team.
Photo by Hannah Kazlovskaya
Basketball is more than just a sport to Wesley Price; he understands that it is a commitment and a full time job.
Wesley has learned to be a leader on and off the basketball court, especially as a captain who his teammates can look up to. “Wes is a good captain because he is a leader on the court. He keeps the team on the right track when we get out of control,” said Senior Guard Jamal Thompson.
As a young child Wesley Price lived in Houston, Texas and at the age of five moved to Denver, Colorado with his mother. “Moving here was good but I’m sad cause I left all my family back home.” At a very young age he had a natural talent and desire for sports, especially basketball. When Wesley wasn’t playing basketball for the YMCA, he was playing football for Prince Hall Pal League.
Wesley understands that in order to be an athlete he has to be a student first, so he says he has been working hard on improving his grades and staying on top of his schoolwork. With a love for English, and history, Wesley’s favorite teachers are Edward Salazar and Matthew Santambrogio. “It has always been a pleasure to have had young Wesley in my class. He is interesting and quite the card. Wesley is open to learning new experiences and proving that he has learned these new concepts,” said Salazar.
Wesley has been playing basketball for Thomas Jefferson since he was a freshman; playing JV and swinging to Varsity when the opportunity arises. Now he is a Varsity co-captain along with Forward Ian Melnicole. “As a co-captain with Wes, I think he is a great captain and player. He sets a great lead that should be followed; he’s an inspiration to everyone on the team and I enjoy playing basketball with him,” said Melnicole.
Wesley understands that being a captain comes with many responsibilities and that he has to be a leader on the court. “As a captain I try and lead by example, by staying positive and helping my team members when they are in need and by picking them up when they are down,” he said.
Wesley says he is very happy with the team he is ending his senior year with. “I feel good about the team. We have so many good players that we didn’t think we would have. We have become a family and we need to work on supporting one another and communication, but overall – as a team – we have improved,” stated Wesley.
Basketball can be a tough sport and in order to be successful a team has to have players who are willing to learn, and a successful coach who is welling to teach. Wesley says Coach Laman has been there for him and has helped him through a lot of ups and downs in his basketball career at TJ.
Wesley says Coach Grant Laman has been a big contributor to his high school basketball career. “Laman gave me a chance with basketball. He pushes me to do my best and makes sure I am on the right track. He understands us as people and students, and then basketball players,” said Wesley.
“This season it has been as Wesley goes, we go. When he’s playing well the team plays well and he deserves a lot credit for that,” said Laman. “Even with ups and downs in his TJ basketball career, he came out this year willing to do everything I have asked of him to do, and I’m glad he’s part of this program,” added Laman.
The basketball team hopes to make it to the playoffs this year with Wesley’s leadership and skills. “He is one of the hardest working players, and he is a good team captain which will help when it comes to the playoffs,” said Varsity Forward Nate Brewer.
This is Wesley’s senior year, but he says basketball will still be his focus after high school. “Hopefully for my future I will go to college at the University of Houston in Texas, and play basketball and major in engineering, or maybe even make it to the NBA. To me, nothing is impossible,” he said.
“These four years have been amazing because of the journey of success with my teammates and my coach,” said Wesley. “I’m sad that it’s my last year, but I hope to leave my senior year of basketball with a championship ring.”
