By Ryan Bisesi

rbisesi@salisburypost.com
SPENCER — As quarterback of the football team, Alexis Archie probably has the most accurate arm on the North Rowan basketball team.
But Oshon West gave him a run for his money with a pass that rivaled a throw from the airport days at Eagle Stadium in the sectional final against Monroe.
In a tie game with under five seconds to play, West grabbed a defensive rebound and threw the ball 60 feet down the floor right into Michael Connor’s stride. Connor hit bullseye on a layup at the buzzer but the playoff heroics don’t happen without West’s toss.
“He made that pass with his off-hand,” North coach Andrew Mitchell said. “His overall athletic ability and drive to win is what separates him.”
The pass wasn’t a juicy statistic, but West doesn’t have many of those as you’d think. By playing on a team with four other all-county players, the wealth was spread out on the Cavaliers. The Cavs reguarly had several players in double-figure scoring for the past two seasons with the Cavs beating most Yadkin Valley Conference teams by 30 and 40 points.
West’s career-high actually came as a freshman when he scored 33 points in a playoff win against East Surry. He scores a variety of ways and is just as comfortable shooting a 3-pointer as he is putting it on the floor and driving to the rim.
“I’ve got to get a better handle and be more consistent with my jump shot,” West said.
West is the 2012-2013 County Player of the Year thanks to a unique skill set. After entering the year as a favorite on a loaded team, he was one of three seniors that provided leadership and helped the Cavs to a 27-4 mark and a perfect record in the YVC. West’s career track put him at North Hills for his sophomore season before returning to Spencer for the final two years.
“My friends, like Malik and T.J., were telling me to come back,” West said. “I wanted to play the next two years with them. It’s been like a family.”
Mitchell, who won a state 1A title at North his first season there, was smitten on the first impression.
“I didn’t realize he could shoot as well as he could,” Mitchell said. “He was truly a rare talent.”
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound wingman averaged 16 points a game this year and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark. He was on board for a school-record 116 points in a win against South Davidson. The Moir championship against Davie Co. last year was a memorable win as was the sectional final.
West knows there’s still room for improvement. He works out everyday at the YMCA and shoots in the gym after school. West improved his defense this year.
“He has just been able to outscore everybody most of his life,” Mitchell said. “But he knows defense is part of the game, too. He had to adjust and he’s worked very hard in that aspect of his game.”
The loss to Winston-Salem Prep recently hurt, but it wasn’t representative of a spectacular prep career.
West scored 1390 career points with a stop at North Hills his sophomore season. As far as college prospects, schools like Lincoln Memorial, Tennessee-Martin and South Carolina State are appealing.
“(The Prep game) hurt real bad,” West said. “But I’ve got to move on and get ready for college.”