Ex-NBA player speaks to West students

LIMA — Lima West Middle School welcomed former NBA player Wesley Fluellen to speak to staff and students Friday in the school’s first whole-school assembly in over a decade. Fluellan grew up in Cleveland and spoke to students about his life with a mom battling addiction, being in foster care and discovering his passion for basketball. Fluellan also highlighted the importance of school and respecting authority. “Our students are young people with impressionable minds,” said Cherelle Turner, West’s principal. “We desire for them to be exposed and have proximity to individuals of strong character who have demonstrated success.” Turner said the school partnered with Relationships under Construction, a Columbus-based organization that helps teenagers build healthy lives and strong relationships with those around them. Fluellen works with the organization giving motivational speeches, and he picked West because he felt he could relate to its students. Fluellen moved around West’s gymnasium,