[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
FWD: Lamar Odom - The Next Bird Or Magic
He certainly wowed the multitude of scouts gathered for his collegiate
debut.
[The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
[Boston Globe Online / Sports]
ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Odom does it all in debut
He's not afraid to play starring role
By Mark Blaudschun, Globe Staff, 11/10/98
PROVIDENCE - Let it be recorded that in Lamar Odom's first collegiate game, 38
representatives from 20 NBA teams came to watch.
Let it also be noted that in his first collegiate game, Lamar Odom had a
double-double - by halftime.
And let it be known that in his first collegiate game, Lamar Odom scored the
last basket of the evening, giving the University of Rhode Island a pulsating
87-85 victory over Texas Christian.
All of this played out last night before a small gathering at Providence Civic
Center in an event called the CoSIDA Classic.
Few debuts have been as anticipated as that of the Rams' 6-foot-10-inch
sophomore whose academic travails have been well-documented the past two
years.
So what did Odom do in his coming-out party? Oh, just make 6 of 13 shots for
19 points, pull down a game-high 14 rebounds, and hand out 9 assists. And hit
the winning shot with 5.4 seconds remaining in a game that had the intensity
of an NCAA regional final.
''Nineteen points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists?'' said URI coach Jim Harrick,
looking at the stat sheet. ''He almost had a triple-double. Goodness
gracious.''
That Odom is even at URI is amazing considering it took him two years to meet
NCAA academic standards; he had six-figure offers from the CBA and a
professional league in Greece; and NBA people already believe he may be the
No. 1 pick in next spring's draft.
For Odom, last night was dreamlike as much as a dream come true.
''I was real nervous coming into the game,'' he said. ''It was a relief [just
getting to play]. As the game went on, I felt more comfortable. Got into it
more.''
Odom may have felt nervous, but he didn't look it. Not when he had 13 points
and 10 rebounds in the first half as URI took a 10-point lead over the Horned
Frogs, who were ranked 25th in the preseason Associated Press poll and had a
genuine attraction in forward Lee Nailon, a first-team preseason All-American.
And not at the end, with the game tied at 85. Odom came out of a timeout with
24 seconds left, a smile on his face as he calmly waited until the 11-second
mark before making a move to the basket that ended with the ball spinning in
and the Rams prevailing.
Coming out of preseason, there was much speculation about where Odom would
play for Harrick. He is big and agile enough to play the 3 spot, or even 4 or
5, but he also is quick enough to play point guard.
One scout who watched Odom in preseason workouts said, ''He's a 15,'' meaning
he could play all five positions.
Last night, after starting point guard Preston Murphy went down with a severe
ankle injury, Odom moved into Murphy's role, running the offense with the
precision of a three-year veteran, instead of a 19-year-old kid making his
college debut.
''The game is very, very easy for him,'' said Harrick with a smile and a shake
of the head.
Odom made it look easy and made it sound easy. When asked how he felt playing
point guard, he smiled and said, ''Good. As a point guard and as a leader on
the team, I felt comfortable doing things.''
A leader? Forty minutes into a college career that probably will last no
longer than the Rams' last game in March?
''I think Jim Harrick is going to enjoy him this year,'' said TCU coach Billy
Tubbs, ''because this is the only year he's going to have him.''
And Harrick will take him - gladly - for every game he can. The Rams are good
but have question marks, especially at guard. That position got even thinner
for a couple of weeks with Murphy out.
But URI is going to get better and so is Odom, who will be a presence on and
off the court.
After one game Odom has become the leader of the pack. Everyone at the Civic
Center recognized that.
There was little question who would take the last shot last night. Nor did
there seem to be much question as to what would happen.
''He just stepped up and did it,'' said senior forward Antonio Reynolds-Dean.
''I don't know how he did it. But he did it.''
Yes, he did. And as the season starts to take shape in the next few weeks,
there seems little doubt that Odom's effect on URI will be enormous.
And it seems just as obvious that his stay with the Rams will be a short one,
but one that will not soon be forgotten.
This story ran on page E08 of the Boston Globe on 11/10/98.
© Copyright 1998 Globe Newspaper Company.
--------------5BD15BB477C0--