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Trash talk doesn’t both Abington High School’s Damien Wilson. The junior swingman is deaf to it.
In fact, if he takes out his hearing aid, he won’t hear much at all. Wilson was born hearing impaired. “I think my mother figured it out when I was about 1,” said Wilson. “She took me to the hospital and the discovered I was completely deaf in my right ear and I had very little hearing out of the left ear.” He met Ann Stockwell, who is his audiologist. “She tells me what’s best for me,” said Wilson. Stockwell has fitted Wilson with a number of hearing aids over the years and, like all technology, great strides have been made. “The one I have now is real good,” said Wilson. “It has a wireless device and last year my coach would give him instructions from the bench.” Living in a near-silent world hasn’t handicapped him in the teenage world of music and dancing. “If I want to listen to a CD, I have a special thing for the FM that I can plug in so I can hear it,” said Wilson. His hearing impairment has not held him back a bit, neither in the classroom nor on the athletic field. However, in the classroom, he chooses a strategic seat. “I usually sit near the front and usually to the left side of the room,” said Wilson, who does not know who to lip read, which might have been helpful, peering into opponents huddles on the sidelines. He is looking forward to attending college when he graduates from Abington High School. “I’m not sure where I want to go, but I like to someday work with computers. I’d like to work in computer security. Besides playing the No. 3 position on the Green Wave varsity, Wilson is an accomplished receiver and defensive back for Abington’s football varsity, which finished the season as South Shore League co-champions last fall. While he thoroughly enjoys football, basketball is his first love. “My dad gave me my first basketball when I was 2 years old and I’ve been in love with the game ever since,” said Wilson. He understands the development of a basketball player. They are not made from December to March, when the high school season is in full bloom. Players develop in the off-season. It begins in March and they play until November, usually for an organized team or two. Wilson, during the off-season, is a member of the AAU Coastal Pops, coached by Danny Reagan of Norwell. “Playing for the Pops gave me a lot of confidence,” said Wilson. “They didn't care if I was deaf or anything. They just wanted me to play better.” Being deaf might have its advantages. Trash talk, for instance, and then there is foul shooting. No razzing from the bleachers will bother him, either. But it is difficult to communicate with teammates and your coaches. But Wilson and his teammates worked it out. “When were on the court I look at (point guard) Kristian (LaPointe) and he tells me what to do,” said Wilson. He knows Coach Chris Beatrice’s playbook better than most. “I've learned the plays I go over diagrams and visualize all of the scenarios,” said Wilson. Sometimes LaPointe might make a hand gesture and Wilson knows what to do. But sometimes his point guard is unseen, blocked out by opposing players. “ When I can't see Kristian, I just look around and see what's developing and make a move,” added Wilson. Wilson did not play his freshman year for the Abington varsity. But he had quite a thrill last season as a sophomore. “It was great. We got to play in the Boston Garden. That was a thrill I'll never forget,” said Wilson. Those seniors who started ahead of him last year where is mentors, showing him what championship basketball was all about. “We made it to the Garden because we had guys like Chris Tighe and Brian Kurowski. They were special and taught me a great deal.” This year Wilson and Greg Cronin took Tighe’s and Kurowski’s position on the floor and Abington has not missed a beat. The Green Wave have the same record they did a year ago at this juncture, one loss heading into tonight’s showdown at Norwell, which may determine the South Shore League title. The loss was to Dedham in the Christmas Holiday Tournament “We weren’t covering close enough and their shooters were hitting 3-pointers like crazy,” admits Wilson. He would be happy if it was the only loss of the season. Wilson wants another South Shore League title, a high seed for the defending the Div. 3 South Sectional champions. He wants another opportunity to play in Boston Garden, and hopefully go on to a state title. It may be Abington’s best – and last – opportunity. After this year the Green Wave graduates the indomitable backcourt of Lapointe and Ryan Chambers. Also graduating will be center Rob Cornish and power forward Cronin. No matter, Wilson doesn’t worry about that. He is only concerned with the next game. That’s all a player cares about. He is looking forward to tonight’s game at Norwell. Abington beat the Clippers by five the first meeting, on Green Wave turf. This game is in Norwell. “You know it’s going to be crazy there,” said Wilson. But the noise won’t bother him. He never does. (by wickedlocal.com)
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