Lasting friendship buoys Woburn duo

WOBURN — Mickel Simpson and Ricky Aponte had the course all charted out — play basketball together on club teams, get to high school and lead Woburn to glory.

But fate dealt the duo a cruel hand.

Aponte was diagnosed with a heart condition following his freshman year and had to give up basketball. The news was a crushing blow for Simpson, but the 6-foot-3 senior guard has used it as personal motivation.

“I was devastated. I was there when he found out. I was shocked,” Simpson said. “Now, I play for him, I don’t want to let him down. I know if he was out there, he would be giving it his all, so I want to give it my all.

“I don’t want to look back and see what I could have done better. I want to give it 100 percent all the time.”

Aponte’s name may not appear in the box score, but his presence clearly can be felt. From his spot on the Woburn bench, Aponte is quick to offer encouragement or advice when the situation calls for it.

“We’ve played together since the sixth grade and we’re like family now,” Aponte said. “I see things on the court and I make sure to tell him what’s going on out there.”

Simpson hasn’t needed much advice, relying on his god-given talent to make an impact on the Woburn program. Coach Tom Sullivan had so much faith in Simpson’s ability from the start that he didn’t think twice about putting him out there against defending Division 1 state champion BC High on the road.

“They had the big shot blocker (Jake O‘Brien), one of the best around,” Sullivan said. “Mickel went right at him and finished with 18 points. He played like a seasoned veteran even though he was a baby at the time.”

Simpson blossomed as a sophomore, playing a key role in Woburn’s march to the Division 2 sectional title. Even though the dream ended in a crushing last-second loss to Milton at the Garden, it was a joyride Simpson gladly would take again.

“Oh it was a great experience,” Simpson said, “to play at the Tsongas (Arena) and the Garden, oh my goodness. Not everyone gets that opportunity. I’m hoping we get back there this year.

“I have that 2009 orange sticker (signifying Woburn’s postseason run) on my wall. I see it every morning, it’s an incentive. I want to get back there.”

The Simpson of today is a far cry from the youngster who played a secondary role on the championship squad.

“The beauty of Mickel is that he is a terrific athlete. He was a great athlete as a young kid,” Sullivan said. “His ballhandling, shooting and his knowledge has increased immeasurably over the last three years, and it’s all because he wants to get better.”

Those skills have caught the eye of several colleges. Simpson already has been accepted at Trinity, while other schools would be more than happy to see him land on their doorstep.

“As competitive as he is on the court, he’s a great kid off the court,” Sullivan said. “He truly is a coach’s dream.”

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