Rivalry holds extra significance for Columbus' Bassey, Jordan's Wright

It's hate week for good friends Essang Bassey and Markus Wright.

Bassey's Columbus team will face Wright's Jordan team in the season-opener on Thursday at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium, and even though one of them won't be on the field, there's been plenty of talk between the two leading up to the contest.

"It's always competitive between us," Bassey said. "There's trash talk days leading up to the game. We call it hate week -- I won't speak to him or I'll talk trash or something the week before the game. I've done that every year since freshman year."

The two, who met each other through mutual friend Sam Ndem when Wright was Ndem's teammate at Brookstone, have faced each other three times in high school. Wright played his freshman and sophomore seasons with the Cougars, going 2-0 against the Blue Devils before transferring to Jordan where he suffered his first defeat against Bassey last year, 29-27.

Wright won't have a chance to ensure a winning record against his close friend this year while he recovers from a slight tear in his meniscus that will sideline him for the first few weeks of the season.

He says he's frustrated he has to miss the game. Bassey, in true hate week fashion, has another explanation.

"I tell him he did it on purpose, so he won't have to face me," Bassey joked. "I'm just mad we won't get to finish out the series, because he's 2-1 against me."

Despite the inevitable game week trash talk, the two players have great respect for the other's game. Bassey praised Wright's aggressive style of play. Wright lauded Bassey for his knowledge and athleticism.

"He's tenacious," Bassey said of Wright. "He gets after the quarterback and he finishes plays. He never gives up."

"He's so explosive," Wright said of Bassey. "He's a smart guy. He knows the game well, knows what to do to help his team. He's definitely dangerous."

For awhile, the two even talked about trying to get to the next level as a "package deal," in other words, committing to the same college football teams. In the end, they both committed on the same day, but Bassey selected Wake Forest and Wright California.

"Recruiting is just your personal feel," Bassey said. "I made up my mind first, and when I committed he told me he was thinking about doing it too, and I just told him to make sure it's what he wanted."

They share ideas, too. Both are in similar situations, both as elite players who will have a chance to shine at the next level, but also as leaders of teams that have struggled for years and are trying to take the next step.

Wright says he's more of a leader by example. Bassey, though, likes to let people hear him.

"We just talk about how we can develop as leaders in our own way to prepare our teams," Wright said. "We lead different ways. I'm more passive, he's more vocal. We just try to learn from each other and pass it along to our teammates."

And, while he won't be an active example on Thursday, Wright said that shared knowledge will be put into full effect.

"Regardless of me playing or not, I have faith in every single member of my team that they're going to be able to hold it down without me," Wright said. "It's hard for me to watch, but I'll be on the sidelines cheering, being vocal and I'll make a quick comeback in a few weeks."

Note: The game will be broadcast on WOKS-AM 1340 starting at 6:50 p.m.

David Mitchell, Follow David on Twitter@leprepsports.

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Rivalry holds extra significance for Columbus' Bassey, Jordan's Wright ."