Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

December 21, 2012

Red Claws guard only spoiling for NBA return

The son of a pro player, Xavier Silas grew up with a work ethic and social conscience.

By Kevin Thomas kthomas@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

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"I feel if I'm not helping out, I'm not doing my part."

Xavier Silas is also involved in Midnight Basketball. He has visited China with Reach USA, a sports-based Christian outreach program. And he helped promote a charity that sold T-shirts to fund school uniforms in Haiti.

Silas know that the higher the stage he reaches in basketball, the more he will be able to give back. He has come a long way already, from high school in Austin, Texas; to prep school at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., in 2005 -- "It was so cold. We didn't have these mild winters like now. It was really brutal" -- to Colorado University and then transferring to Northern Illinois University. His degree is in Rhetoric Communication.

His brief pro career has included stops in France, Maine, Philadelphia and Orlando in the NBA's summer league.

In Orlando, Silas almost had his skull fractured when his head was pushed down as another player was jumping up. Silas' face hit the back of the player's head.

The blow, causing a concussion, fractured bones in his forehead. Surgery was required.

"They went in, took some of the bone out, cleaned it up, inserted a titanium plate and then put 57 staples across my head," Silas said. "It was like a face-lift."

Two weeks later, Silas was preparing for the next basketball season. He plays both guard positions for Maine, while also noted for his hustle on both ends of the court.

"Xavier brings so much energy and effort to our defense," Red Claws Coach Mike Taylor said.

Energy and effort. Still proving himself. Not spoiled in the least.

Staff writer Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: KevinThomasPPH

 

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