Wise was raised in a crime-ridden neighborhood in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[1] and played basketball at Central High School.[2] He played his freshman season with the Canisius Golden Griffins as a 17-year-old.[3] Alexander was selected as the MAAC Rookie of the Year,[4] but was dispirited as he felt that many of his teammates lacked his commitment to winning.[1] Wise contemplated leaving the team but decided to stay when John Beilein was appointed as head coach and established a new attitude amongst the players.[1] Wise earned first-team All-MAAC honors during the 1993–94 season and helped lead the Griffins to their only MAAC regular season title.[4] He averaged 16.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists during his senior season in 1994–95 and was selected as the MAAC Player of the Year.[4]
Wise ranks in the top-10 in 12 different career statistical categories amongst Golden Griffins players including third in scoring (1,799 points), fifth in rebounds (784), eighth in assists (353) and second in steals (218).[4] He is the only player in school history with more than 1,500 points, 700 rebounds and 350 assists.[4] Wise was inducted into the Canisius Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and was included on the MAAC Honor Roll in 2017.[4][5]
Post-playing career
Wise graduated in 1995 as a 20-year-old with a degree in physical education and held aspirations of teaching and coaching.[1] He was working as a transit cop in Philadelphia as of 2004.[6]