From troubled path to NBA dreams

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Charlene Dorsey was determined her son, Joey, would not go down the wrong path.

Living in west Baltimore, Joey could have ended up dealing drugs or joining a gang. It would have been easy for Dorsey, who never had a relationship with his father, to become the next in a long line of the city’s talented players to succumb to life on the street. He grew up in a home where his mom often worked two jobs to take care of him and his younger sister, Candice Boulware.

“I told Joey, if you do something wrong, I will call the police,” Charlene said. “I am not here to be your friend. I’m here to be your mother.”

Joey Dorsey had his troubles along the way, but with his mother never letting him stray too far, he appears poised to become part of the next class of professional basketball players from Baltimore. Many draft experts project the former University of Memphis and Douglass High standout to be a late first to early second-round pick in tonight’s NBA Draft at 7 on ESPN.

The 6-foot-7, 265-pounder averaged 6.9 points and 9.5 rebounds for Memphis last season to lead the Tigers to the NCAA championship game. But he is known mainly for his defensive prowess, as he played on the same team as guards Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose, who could be the top pick in the draft.

“It took me some time to learn to concentrate on defense,” said Dorsey, who graduated from Douglass in 2002. “[Memphis] coach John Calipari and I didn’t see eye to eye early on, but he made me believe that I would be a key to our success.”

The road to success was a long one for Dorsey. At 13, his mother sent him to New Foundations, an alternative school in the city for children with behavioral problems. But after graduating from Douglass, which he led to a Class 3A state title in 2002, he spent two years at Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep before arriving at Memphis. Charlene moved to Tennessee two years ago to make sure her son stayed out of trouble.

“Joey has come a long way, but he’s still learning,” Charlene Dorsey said. “Without a male role model for much of his life, he was always having to discover things out for himself.”

Dorsey finished his career as the Conference USA career leader in rebounds (1,209). He also is Memphis’ career leader in field goal percentage (.614) and is second all-time at the school in blocked shots (265).

His ability to play defense and rebounded has attracted considerable attention of NBA teams, as he accepted invitations to work out for the  Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons, New Orleans Hornets and the Memphis Grizzlies prior to the draft.

The latter of those teams could be intriguing for Dorsey, who would be paired with fellow Baltimore native Rudy Gay. Gay and Dorsey became friends while both were in Memphis. They also are both represented by agent Lance Young. Memphis has the fifth and 28th pick tonight.

“Rudy and I have talked a lot and he has helped groom me for this day,” Dorsey said.

Dorsey will be an NBA rookie, but he will enter the league at 24, older than many veterans. He said having those extra years to mature emotionally and physically will allow him to contribute immediately on the game’s biggest stage.

“I was an old man in college,” Dorsey joked. “[New Orleans coach] Byron Scott told me with a body like mine he could have used me last year.”

rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com

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