Basir Wright, Johnson C. Smith University, NFL Draft Interview with Joe Gaiter

Joe Gaiter: What does football mean to you?

Basir Wright: Football means more than just a sport to me. Football is game of life lessons, incredible challenges, long lasting friendships and sacrifices.

Joe Gaiter: What is your sports background?

Basir Wright: I have been playing sports since I was 10 years old I started out with recreation football and worked my way up to track and basketball in middle school. After middle school I played football and track for all four years and played basketball for one year on a AAU team.

Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Johnson C. Smith University to further your athletic and educational pursuits?

Basir Wright: I had potential looks from other schools however things didn’t go as planned. Signing day was approaching fast and I received a call to come up on an official visit to Johnson C. Smith. After my visit I talked it over with my parents to figure out what the best move for me would be. Johnson C. Smith happened to be my best opportunity to do something big for my family. As well as not allow my parents to pay for my college education, attending smith would allow me to be the first person to graduate from college in my family.

Joe Gaiter: What were your stats this year?

Basir Wright:

• Tackles: 49

• PBU: 3

• INT: 2

• FF: 1

• FR:1

Joe Gaiter: Heights and Weight?

Basir Wright:  6’0 195

Joe Gaiter: What are the keys in playing Defensive Back?

Basir Wright:  My coach taught me a simple phrase that helps me out when I play it is called A.K.T. When playing defensive back, you need to make sure that all three of these are correct and that you know what they are when you line up to play.

• A is for alignment

• K is for your keys on the field

• T is for your technique

Joe Gaiter: What will you miss about playing at Johnson C. Smith University?

Basir Wright:  I will miss the city sky line of Charlotte at night time when those Saturday night lights cut on.

Joe Gaiter: What do you think your impact on the game has been for your school?

Basir Wright: I believe I had a tremendous impact on my team defensively. I brought a positive, enthusiastic energy when I stepped on the field. Being a senior I was able to bring a lot of knowledge of my past experiences to my teammates who will be taking my spot next year.

Joe Gaiter: How hungry are you to make it?

Basir Wright: I don’t believe there is a word for the type of ambition, drive, relentlessness and dedication that I have to make it to the next level. I am a man of actions, so I just ask for one shot to let me show people the skill and drive that I have to play and be successful at the next level.

Joe Gaiter: When is your proday/combine?

Basir Wright: TBA

Joe Gaiter: With who and where you are you training?

Basir Wright: Velocity Sports Performance, Charlotte NC.

Joe Gaiter: Who is your agent and why did you sign to them?

Basir Wright: My agent is Frank Denison and I signed with him because he is a man of character and I trust in believe that he will work just as hard as I am to help me secure my dream.

Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?

Basir Wright: August 19, 1997 is when I was told that my gift of perseverance was given to me. On that day I was born but also on that day the doctors told my parents that I needed to be rushed into surgery to do kidney surgery. Adversity has always been a part of my life. I was never given anything and everything I wanted I worked extremely hard for. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York was one of my biggest adversities. I lived in an area where there was a lot of gang violence, drugs and killing. The easiest thing for me would have been to become another statistic but I noticed how hard my parents worked to provide for my family. We lived in a two bedroom apartment with seven people. My parents in their bedroom and in the other room my sister, my older brother, my younger brother, my uncle and I lived on the couch for some time.

Before my family moved to Georgia, I didn’t know I would face my biggest adversity in my life. I had an allergic reaction to a medicine that caused me to get a rare auto-immune disease called Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). Which caused inflammation and bleeding in blood vessels, swollen and sore joints, abdominal pain, bloody urine and possible kidney failure. What made this disease so fatal for me was that I later found out that I was allergic to the medicine they use to treat this particular rare auto-immune disease. At that point in time I wondered to myself was this all I was put on this earth to accomplish. The hardest thing was having to look my family in the eyes and to know that it might be the last time we might meet face to face. I Spent hours in the hospital bed praying that I get another chance at life to take advantage and to leave a legacy for my family.

It’s now February 28^th, 2019 and I’ve been blessed to continue my legacy. Although my circumstances, I managed to become the first in my family to earn my degree this upcoming spring of 2019 and become the first in my family to play collegiate football.

Growing up in a city were football wasn’t a focus it was extremely hard making it to the collegiate level. The most depressing moment was when I had a coach tell me that I wouldn’t make it to the collegiate level and there was no point in me attending a camp to showcase my talent. I took that as motivation and I decided to believe and invest in myself. I believed that God put me through the obstacles I went through to tell my story and I use that as motivation to overcome all obstacles in my way.

Joe Gaiter: Tell me about the different bowl games you have participated in.

Basir Wright: I participated in the FCS bowl and HBCU spirit of America bowl which allowed me to go against some of the top talent in the nation and to perform in front of NFL scouts.

Joe Gaiter: Why should a NFL Team pick you over other athletes playing your same position?

Basir Wright: A NFL team should pick me because I’m versatile I can play corner, Nickel/Dime, Strong Safety, and Free Safety. Wherever I’m needed I can be an impact for a team. I also have a different demeanor about myself I will continuously strive for perfection and give 110% every day. I come with a great attitude to work hard, I don’t have off the field issues and I know that I won’t take advantage of this opportunity if it is given to me.

Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation?

Basir Wright: My biggest motivation is my family and my upbringing.

Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?

Basir Wright: I want to be known as powerful role model who truly made a difference, who left an impact on this world and left it in a better shape than when he was alive. I want to be that light of hope for youth that will spark a movement of uplift and positivity amongst my community. From the time I was a young child, I was told that I was special and was destined for something  wonderful, that whatever I  set my mind to I could accomplish.

I’ve had a lot of time to think about this and coming so close to dying put things into perspective. Being faced with an obstacle like that so young I knew that I had a bigger purpose than me. I want to be remembered as someone who made a difference. To show people that you should always continually bounce back and fight even when giving up might seem like an only option. I want for my family to be proud of the man they raised.

Joe Gaiter: Final Words/Shoutout?

Basir Wright:I would just like to thank God for everything that I have accomplished and everything that I will accomplish. This journey has truly made me a better man and a better person through all the trials and challenges.

Twitter-@BasirWright  Instagram- Basir_Ali_

Highlight tape

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/2617270/5bdf7d0d6898f509eca675f4