For Trawick, love at second sight

Jabril Trawick didn't fall head over heels in love with Georgetown on his first visit.

"Yeah, at the time, I didn't think it was the place for me," said the quick-footed and high-scoring senior from Abington Friends School. "And I thought I wanted to go to somewhere with a warmer climate and, maybe, a big-time football program."

A second trip to Washington turned things around. "I got a different feel for the school and the city," he said. "There are a lot of opportunities there, and I'm sure I'll get a great education and develop contacts to use in the future."

With 30-plus scholarship offers, the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Trawick, a do-everything type for the Kangaroos, chose Georgetown over runner-up Florida State, North Carolina State, Cincinnati, and Xavier, among others.

Locally, Drexel and La Salle pursued Trawick the hardest after he shined on the AAU circuit the summer before his junior year.

The 18-year-old, a solid penetrator with an improving mid-range jump shot, is averaging nearly 20 points for Abington Friends, which is 8-4 overall and 1-1 in the Friends Schools League.

"He's very coachable, a hard-nosed player, and has a team-oriented approach to the game," longtime Kangaroos coach Steve Chadwin said. "We go as he goes."

After two years at Abington Friends, Trawick transferred to Freire Charter, of the Philadelphia Public League, and played his sophomore season for the Dragons at 20th and Chestnut Streets.

"I thought I deserved more playing time, so I left," he said. "Academically, Freire wasn't the best fit for me. I spent half a year there before coming back to Abington Friends. Fortunately, when I came back, everyone welcomed me with open arms."

Trawick lives near 52d Street and Haverford Avenue in West Philly. When Trawick was two months old, his father, Hakeem, was shot and killed in the neighborhood.

The high-leaping swingman said he has overcome the loss with the help of a "strong support system" that includes his mother, Saskia Jones; uncle, Leon Shamsid-Deen; sister, Bashia Jones-Smith; and cousin Raushanah Hargrove.

Shamsid-Deen, well-known in AAU circles, has coached at Abington Friends, Freire, Prep Charter, and University City. "He's been like a father figure to me," Trawick said.

Of playing all five positions for height-challenged Abington Friends, Trawick said, "It's tough at times, but it helps me become a better overall player. I learn how to guard bigger opponents, which will help me in college."

Trawick is supported by three seniors: 6-4 forward Kenny Johnson, 6-1 wing guard Joey Gripper, and 5-10 point guard Dylan Moody.

Against Academy of the New Church, which features 6-11 center Malcolm Gilbert and 6-9 forward Rakeem Christmas, the visiting Kangaroos fell, 42-34.

"We don't have much height or depth," Chadwin said. "We have to play tough defense, make shots at critical times, and we need to be smart with the ball."

In addition to Trawick, who is ranked No. 71 in the Class of 2011 by ESPNU, Georgetown landed 6-8 center Mikael Hopkins, of DeMatha Catholic (Md.), and 6-9, 260-pound center Tyler Adams, of Brandon (Miss.). Adams first committed to Duke.

"There's a chance for me to come in and contribute right away," said Trawick, who plans to major in communications. "I'm going to be playing and working out with that goal in mind."

Games of the weekend. On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., in what could be a preview of the Catholic League championship, No. 8-ranked Neumann-Goretti will visit No. 1 Archbishop Carroll.

Last March at the Palestra, the Saints downed the Patriots, 75-59, to claim their second straight league crown and fourth in six seasons.

The guard play will no doubt be exciting to watch, with Neumann-Goretti's Lamin Fulton (St. Peter's recruit) and Carroll's Juan'ya Green (Niagara) squaring off.

On Friday night at 7, Bensalem, which stunned Neshaminy last week on Leo Vincent's left-wing three-pointer, will play host Council Rock North in a Suburban One League National Conference matchup.