THE ROAD to 2,000 points can start with one, two or three.
Maurice "Doo-Wop" Watson remembers and he's glad it was the middle number.
"My first points came on a midrange jumper," he said. "I dribbled to my left side and then pulled up. I was proud of that basket, because I'd been working on pull-up shots all before that season."
Watson, a Boston University signee, is a 5-9, 160-pound senior guard for Boys' Latin Charter and his 4-year career total stands at 1,972.
The newest 33 came Thursday at Shepard RC, footsteps from Wilt Chamberlain's childhood home, as the Warriors bested Communications Tech, 67-61, in Public A. The necessary 28 could come tomorrow, 3 p.m., at Rutgers-Camden in a showcase game against Pennsauken. Or maybe he'll experience the special moment Tuesday, at 3:15, in a league game at Southern.
Any preference for how?
"Nah," he said. "However it happens is fine, as long as I get it. A basket's a basket."
In the city leagues' glorious history, only five players have reached 2,000. Maureece "The Scorelord" Rice (Strawberry Mansion '03) tops the list at 2,681. Also in the club are Chamberlain (Overbrook '55) at 2,206, Tyrone "Braidheart" Garland (John Bartram '10) at 2,198 and two guys from Episcopal Academy, John Phillips ('98) at 2,068 and Gerald Henderson ('06) at 2,059. Garland and Phillips are cousins.
A ceremony honoring Watson, who is coached by his father, Maurice Sr., will be held before Thursday's 3:15 game vs. Simon Gratz, also at Shepard (nee Haddington; 57th and Haverford).
"When I do get 2,000," Watson said, "I'm going to feel blessed to be part of such an elite group. And I'll be happy to get it out of the way. The pressure to get there will be off."
Thursday, Watson shot 12-for-17 (one trey) and 8-for-8, while adding 12 rebounds, seven assists and six steals. Such production was needed, because senior forward Carlos Taylor (UMass-Lowell) sat down within the first minute because of lingering flu issues, and the other stalwart, junior guard Yahmir Greenlee, missed 10 of his first 11 points before rallying to score 11 points.
Watson had three straight assists to begin the game, then became his ol' hard-to-cover self.
