There have been plenty of legends who have walked the halls of Garfield. Perhaps they got expelled for “risqué” behavior in the middle of the hallways and eventually went on to claim their fame as a rock star guitar player, or maybe they excelled at basketball became a member of the Portland Trail Blazers straight out of college. Tony Wroten was all the Messenger’s sports staff could talk about last year, but this year there seems to be a new kid on the block. And word on the street is that he also knows a thing or two about basketball.

Freshman Pierre Wright, who claims to have played on a rotary basketball team at the age of four could be the difference that takes the boys all the way to state.

“I am pretty excited to be on the team this year,” Wright said. “Hopefully we will take state.”

Wright and Wroten have played on the same team together for years now and are undoubtedly competitive with each other. But Wright seems fairly nonplussed by Wroten’s rise to stardom within the Garfield community. He described playing on the same rotary team as Wroten as simply “alright.”

It is not hard to notice Wright’s talent at the doghouse today, because in his spare time he can often be found on a local basketball court with his friends. According to junior Molly Quinn-Shea, a former peer at St. Joes, he was impressively talented even at a very young age.

“One time, when I was in 8th grade, I saw Pierre dunk when he was only in 6th grade,” Quinn-Shea said. “It was so cool!”

It may seem like a long way off, but Wright has already started thinking about playing college ball, and maybe even going pro. He does not yet know where, but college scouts are sure to be recruiting him left and right once he steps out onto the hardwood and shows what we he’s made of.

For now, Wright’s legacy has only just begun. He has already wowed spectators on the football field, and although he hasn’t played a minute of ball yet this season, the hype is already there. In the next four years he hopes to not only improve his skills but also to add to the Bulldog trophy case as many times as possible.