Booster shots

Tywain McKee’s scoring ability has never been in doubt. In his junior year, the guard’s 29.1 points per game ranked him among the Public League’s best.

But when the 17-year-old athlete transferred from Furness to John Bartram High, his stats became secondary. The Bartram Braves were the defending Public League champs — albeit with an entirely new starting lineup — and McKee, of 12th and Bainbridge streets, needed to make some adjustments.

"When I first came over here, I wasn’t trying to score," said the player, who is heading to Temple University to play Division I basketball for Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. "I was just trying to fit in."

But Bartram coach Lou Biester noticed the senior’s talent early on, and encouraged the newcomer to do what he did best — rack up the points.

"He was our deep shooter," the coach said. "He could shoot with the best athletes in the city."

Sure enough, McKee regained his scoring touch by averaging 18.6 points per game and, more importantly, helping the Southwest Philly squad advance to the Public League semifinals for the fourth straight season. His consistent efforts earned him First Team All-Public and Third Team All-City honors and, now, the Review‘s Male Athlete of the Year Award.

One of McKee’s most memorable moments this stellar year was Bartram’s semifinal game against Gratz.

Even though his Braves lost 70-67, the team had fought back from an 18-point deficit. McKee even had the chance to tie the game with a long-distance three-point attempt in the game’s final seconds.

"Both games against Gratz were the highlights [of the season]," he said. "The way we fought back and only lost by two or three points was great."

Gratz also edged past Bartram, 65-63, in the regular-season meeting, despite McKee’s game-high 27 points.

Playing for Bartram fulfilled McKee’s personal goal of competing in the playoffs. His old team, the Furness Falcons, just missed the postseason cut in 2003 with an 8-5 mark in Division D play. In 2002, the South Philly squad had a 7-6 league record.

McKee’s childhood was split between South and Southwest Philly — most of it spent on the hardwood. He started playing recreational basketball at age 6, and traveled from one rec center to another to face the best competition. Kingsessing Recreation Center, 50th Street and Chester Avenue, and Francis Myers Playground, 58th and Chester, were regular stops.

Like many top NBA players, including favorites Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce, McKee enjoys the spotlight. Following every Bartram contest, the talkative athlete provided his own commentary at the end of the game films.

The Braves’ 16-9 overall record and 11-2 mark in league play allowed McKee plenty of opportunities to brag.

"I miss the season already," he said. "I am telling my teammates if we could go back in time, we would take it all."

After Tuesday’s graduation, McKee’s focus switched to his upcoming freshman year at Temple. Chaney made a personal visit to see McKee play earlier this year and, from that point on, Temple sent representatives to Bartram games.

After a short summer break, McKee will begin classes July 6. A few months later, he will be fully immersed in basketball practices, which means getting a 4:30 a.m. start. McKee said ever since he found out he was going to Temple, he has been setting his alarm for 4:30.

He said he plans to give Chaney the defensive game the coach favors.

"If I play defense and play smart, [Chaney] said I will never come out of the game," the Bartram grad said.

Meanwhile, Biester will face a tough adjustment, trying to replace his top scorer and a great personality.

"He is fun to be around," the coach said. "I am sorry I only had one year with him."

Runners-up

Richard "Tabby" Cunningham, Neumann basketball

The 5-8 point guard stands tall, thanks to two Catholic League championships, two Catholic League semifinal appearances and a slew of individual honors, including a Division I basketball scholarship to La Salle. The Third Team All-City and Second Team All-Catholic selection averaged 10.3 points per game for the 19-8 Pirates, who fell to Cardinal Dougherty in the Catholic League semifinals.

John Wilsman, Neumann track

This Neumann grad made school history this year as a First Team All-State selection in the 400 intermediate hurdles, making him the first Neumann runner to achieve such a feat. Wilsman, who ranked third in the senior class, also captured the Catholic League title in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and earned First Team All-Catholic honors during outdoor season.

Matt Stankiewicz, Neumann bowling

Few athletes can graduate from high school with three championship titles and four All-Catholic selections. But Stankiewicz has joined that elite class. Although he fell short of helping the Pirates make school history as the first team to complete a four-peat, the bowler still left his mark with a 210 average — the highest single-season average in Neumann history and tops in the Catholic League this season.

Michael Brino, GAMP basketball

The 5-foot-11 guard-forward endured a winless season, but he’ll graduate from Girard Academic Music Program as just the fourth member of the school’s exclusive 1,000-point club. The Daily News Fifth Team All-Public selection closed out his high-school career with 1,099 points and averaged a team-best 17.8 points per game. He also ranked 10th in the senior class with a 93 average.