Street smarts meet their match

Wood and I have lived somewhat parallel lives. We are both Midwest boys who lived through volatile conditions. We both had talent and an older brother who ensured we kept our noses clean (Wood’s brother is actor Steve Harris). And we both used basketball as a lifeline. Wood played at St. Joseph, the same high my idol Isiah Thomas went to, and where a few years after Wood graduated they filmed the groundbreaking documentary “Hoop Dreams.” I was in the documentary, playing on a team with William Gates at an All-American camp.

Another intersection between us? He’s in “Black Mafia Family,” which premieres Sept. 26 on Starz. The Curtis “50 Cent” Jacksonproduced series is inspired by the Detroit brothers Demetrius and Terry Flenory, who ran a massive drug syndicate in the 1980s. Wood plays their OG mentor, once again portraying a hard-nosed, no-nonsense street player. His brother Steve plays a detective.

As a kid, I knew both bothers, who went by Big Meech and Southwest T, respectively. And our relationship was similar to that of the ballplayers in “Above the Rim” with drug dealers who ran their hood. I was the All-American player, and they were always around in the stands with their flashy duds and cars, making the game itself an even bigger showcase. Their sister Nicole was even a cheerleader when I played.