Bell boys basketball player dreams of creating medical breakthroughs

The way Orphee Matafadi sees it, some day folks will be able to take a pill and cure major illnesses, such as cancer.

And he wants to be the one who creates such a pill.

“I just want to help people,” said the L.D. Bell senior point guard.

“I want to be a pharmacologist one day. I want to eventually help create drugs that you can take like Advil that will actually cure things, not just make you feel better.”

Orphee admits his idea might sound “a little out there” to some. But he thinks it’s more than just a dream.

“It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds,” he said.

In the meantime, he continues to study hard, play hard, and be both a top student and top athlete.

On the court, he and his Blue Raider teammates are battling for Bell’s first playoff berth in years. And though District 7-6A is tough and league play is barely at the halfway mark, they received all the inspiration needed with a recent 64-63 victory against rival Trinity.

“I feel like we made a statement,” Orphee said of the win.

And Orphee believes he has a lot to offer should they make a playoff push.

“I really do want to be that guy other players look to as a leader,” he said. “I want the team to know I’ll be able to make that big shot or that big pass.”

Orphee is in the International Baccaleureate program, one of eight Bell players (out of 11 on the roster) who are in either IB or Advanced Placement classes. Others are Keinen Brown, Ramish Maida, Brendon Weatherspoon, A.D. Donald, Boston Billings, J.R. Choate and Hekim Lupai.

“Those kids go home and do homework all night,” said Bell coach Willie Henderson. “I don’t even do checks on my varsity. None of them are in danger of failing.”

And they all, like Orphee, want to continue their hard studies and play in college. But studies come first, Orphee said, and he’s not picky as long as it’s a school where he can advance his dream.

“Any school that has a good biology or science program will work,” he said. “I’ll play wherever I can, and I definitely want to play in college, so it would be fantastic if it worked out where I could do both.

“But it has to be a school where I can study what I want. I want to major in biology or bio-medical. Then in my third year apply to medical school.”

And though he stands to make a great living – and perhaps history – if his dream comes true, Orphee insists it’s not about anything but helping mankind.

“Money’s never really been on my mind, really,” he said. “I know a lot of people think abut things like that, but that’s not motivating me.

“As I said, I just like to help people.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2016 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Bell boys basketball player dreams of creating medical breakthroughs."