Bartram's Gordon operates on Central

GARY GORDON'S first cousin, John Johnson, is a freshman basketball player at Pitt and Gary, natch, also hopes to enjoy a successful college career.

So, early last November, when he suffered an injury to his right knee while playing in an independent league, the last thing he wanted to do was acknowledge it.

"I made a pass to the wing, then went to set a pick so a guy could come up and shoot a jumper," Gordon said. "I felt something rip and fell right to the floor. My leg had a 90-degree angle. It was locked like that.

"I stayed off it for a while and things began to loosen up, then I actually started playing again. It was not hurting. No pain. I was telling my coach [James Brown, of John Bartram High] that everything felt fine, but he was saying, 'That thing is too swollen for nothing to be wrong.' He said if I didn't get it checked out, he wouldn't let me play. He set up a doctor's appointment and then they found it."

The 6-1, 160-pound Gordon, a senior point guard (and transfer from University City), had surgery for the torn meniscus in early December. Four weeks later, he was back in action and Thursday he paced the Braves past visiting Central, 70-61, in the first round of the Public League playoffs; it was also a Class AAAA quarterfinal.

Gordon, a lefty, totaled 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals, and he posted five apiece of points/boards in the final quarter as Bartram stormed to a 24-12 advantage.

"It hurt not to be able to play for that month," Gordon said. "I was excited about being with my team, but then I could only watch. I was giving good support, though. I was coming to practice every day and going to all the games.

"When we'd lose a close one, that'd really get to me. I knew everybody was trying hard, but I couldn't help thinking, 'If I was out there, things would have been better.' "

Bartram enjoyed admirable balance. Jared Bryant mixed 14 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Bo Murray and Tarrieck Williams compiled matching performances (12 points, six boards) and sixth man Malik Noel, also a lefty, exploded for 18 points (while adding five steals).

For Central, Kyle Lafferty scored 14 points before fouling out with 4:22 left. Romario Dorlus battled for 11 points, nine boards and four assists while football headliners Richard "Tre" Drayton (13 points) and Walter Pegues (seven assists) were also important.

John Johnson spent his final pre-college year at a prep school in Jersey, but previously starred for Girard College, hard by St. Joseph's Prep.

"John's like my brother, really," Gordon said. "I'm in contact with him every day and he had me out there to see their game with Georgetown. Sat right behind Pitt's bench. He's always giving me tips on how to improve, and wishing me good luck, and sending me congrats when he hears I do great."

Gordon, who lives on Yewdall Street, near 54th and Greenway, wants to become an architect.

"Buildings," he clarified. "Since I was little, I've always been good at drawing. Plus, my best subject is math. One time I was with my mom at a bus stop across from City Hall and they had this description about how it was built. They said it took 30 years. Thirty years! Hey, I want to design those kinds of buildings."