Steve Francis' childhood fantasy comes to life, close to home

The NBA game on March 10 — like Steve's dream growing up in Silver Spring and Takoma Park — is something he'll never forget.

by Gary A. Weinstein
April 2007

Photo: Stan Barouh

For NBA star Steve Francis, the final seconds of last month's game against the Wizards was the same situation he'd imagined countless times as a kid, on basketball courts all over Silver Spring and Takoma Park, where he grew up.

The childhood fantasy happened often on his favorite outdoor court, the hardtop behind Piney Branch Elementary School, near the tennis courts. The dream frequently played out in Little Stevie's mind when he was alone in his world, on the court in the early morning or late at night. He'd dribble quickly up the court, slithering left and right, his trademark boundless energy propelling him along. He'd imagine the clock ticking down, his team needing a bucket to win. He'd whisper: "5 … 4 … 3 … 2 …" At about the two-second mark, he'd stop suddenly, pump fake, jump, and release a jump shot. As he whispered "1" the ball would swish . He'd leap in the air, victorious.

Photo: Julie Wiatt

As a kid, Steve Francis shot a basketball at this basket hundreds, thousands, more likely millions of times. He probably made the shot most of the time. This is one of the baskets at the hardtop court behind Piney Branch Elementary School. On the first day Steve touched the rim, as a young teenager, he and his buddies celebrated by taping their nicknames to the backboard. Steve's nickname was "Wink," as in "quick as a wink."

The same scene played out March 10 at the Verizon Center in D.C. Only this time he was closely guarded by Antonio Daniels of the Wizards — and 20,000 screaming fans were there to witness Steve make the shot, a 30-footer with a high arc, swishing through the net as time expired. Steve's team, the Knicks, won 90-89.

Steve leapt on the scorer's table, beaming, flexing his muscular arms, as friends, family, and Knick fans screamed in delight — and Wizard fans stood in silent shock.

Teammates embraced Steve as he made his way through the crowd on the court, to hug his Grandma, Mabel Wilson, sitting in her usual seat when Steve comes to town, at courtside. Steve gently embraced her, leaned over to kiss her cheek, then hugged her tightly.

"To get the win, that was great," he said in the locker room, surrounded by a dozen journalists. "To make the last shot. To do it close to home. To hug Grandma. Man that was great!…The last seconds happened so fast I don't even remember if I did a pump fake, or what, to get free for the jumper."

Steve may not remember some details of this special night. But the game on March 10 — like his dream growing up in Silver Spring and Takoma Park — is something he'll never forget.

Local boy makes great
Steve lived in Silver Spring in his early childhood. In fourth grade, he moved to Takoma Park, and he spent most of his youth in TP. He attended Piney Branch E.S. and Takoma Park M.S. He was a versatile great athlete for the TP Boys & Girls Club. At age 10 his coaches thought he'd become a pro football player. Steve's first two high school years were at Blair H.S. His junior year, his family moved to White Oak; he went to Kennedy H.S. He transferred back to Blair his senior year, then went to a junior college in Texas, a community college in rural Maryland, and the University of Maryland. Now he's a shooting star on the New York Knicks, with a special place in his heart for Silver Spring and Takoma Park — and Grandma.

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