WS Chronicle

In above photo: Naeem Razzak dribbles past a defender during last week’s boys’ East-West All-Star Basketball Game played in Greensboro. (Photo by Craig T. Greenlee)

Naeem Razzak has developed nicely as a pass-first point guard who has learned how to generate offense on his own when needed.

Those skills helped him to secure a spot in the boys’ East-West All-Star Basketball Game played last week in Greensboro.

As a senior at Mount Tabor, Razzak, who is 5-feet-10, 175 pounds, showed his mettle as a difference-maker whose overall value didn’t always show up in the score book.

While the stat line on Razzak wasn’t spectacular (averaged 12 points, 5 assists and 2 steals), his true impact was most accurately reflected in the win-loss column.

This past season, Razzak led the way and the Spartans raised some eyebrows.

Based on pre-season predictions, they probably overachieved.

This wasn’t a senior-heavy group.

Of the 13 players on the roster, 11 were underclassmen.

In spite of its youth, Mount Tabor went 17-8 and advanced to the second round of the Class 4-A state playoffs before losing by a basket to Greensboro Page in double overtime.

“I was able to put together the best parts of my game as a senior,” said Razzak who finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists for the West team in the All-Star Game. “It all comes down to me attacking the basket and making sure that everybody gets their touches. That’s my approach to the game. It’s a proven winning basketball formula.

“Looking back four years ago, I didn’t think I might one day be an All-Star and get to attend college and play basketball. Dreams do come true.”

The left-handed Razzak looks to make a similar impact as a freshman at Lees-McRae College this year.

He understands that as a college basketball newbie, he’ll go through an adjustment period like he did when he first arrived at Mount Tabor as a ninth-grader.

The competition will be tougher than high school, and the level of intensity figures to be much higher.

It’s a challenge that he embraces.

“The main thing for me is to fit in with their system,” he said. “It’s all about hard work and proving myself. As long as I do that, I’m confident that my turn will come. One of the areas of my game that I’ll devote a lot of time to is my shot. That’s really going to help at the next level. I’ve learned that when you continue to work on a skill, you continue to get better at it and it shows.”

Razzak said his confidence about making an impact at the next level comes from the experiences he had while playing under Coach Andy Muse at Mount Tabor.

The growing process he went through, Razzak explained, was good preparation for the next level.

“When you play for Coach Muse, there’s more to it than basketball,” he said. “I learned a lot about being a man, taking responsibility and being accountable. Maturity has a lot to do with it. As you continue to mature, you continue to grow. I’m looking forward to going to Lees-McRae. It feels like home. It’s a good fit.”