Bill Reynolds On The Education Of Lamar odom

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

        Providence Journal
        1.10.99 00:01:57
        BILL REYNOLDS
        THE EDUCATION OF LAMAR ODOM

First half of Rams' season has been a bumpy ride for
URI's star-in-waiting
SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- He's already played in front of more
NBA people than any NBA player has, been called one of
the most talented players in the country, and already
is projected to be a top-five pick if he decides to
enter the next NBA draft. He's been been profiled in
magazines, written up in countless newspapers, and when
he recently played at Pepperdine, there was Magic
Johnson watching him.

Oh, yeah, when he goes on the road with the Rams he
tells the hotel operator no calls, because too many
agents were making things crazy.

All this, and he's only played 14 college games.

This is Lamar Odom at half year.

And the first question to him is a natural:

``What has happened that you didn't expect?''

``The seven losses,'' he answers quickly. ``I've never
lost like this before.''

Welcome to the ongoing education of a young superstar.

No one in the longtime history of college basketball in
Rhode Island ever started his career with as many
expectations as Odom. It's the price he pays for being
called the best high school player in the country two
years ago, the price he pays for all the attention, the
buzz that began surrounding him since he first arrived
here in September of '97, all the NBA interest, all the
accoutrements that come with potential.

At one level he's delivered on the hype. He leads the
Rams in scoring, rebounding, assists, and blocked
shots. He is in the top 10 in all four categories in
the Atlantic 10, an almost unheard of stat, a tribute
to his versatility. Take him off the Rams, and their
season would be on life-support.

And yet he also knows that people expect more, for the
simple reason that he expects more from himself.

``I'm not even close to being the player I know I can
be,'' he says.

In a sense it's as though there are two Lamar Odoms.
There is the Lamar who just turned 19 in November, who
has only played a half year of college basketball, and
sometimes looks it. And there's the Lamar of legend,
the one who's supposed to be Superman in Keaney Blue
every night, the one who's supposed to carry the Rams
to victory every night, like he did in the opening game
of the season against TCU, a debut out of some
storybook.

Somewhere in the middle is the real Lamar.

``Do you feel pressure?'' he is asked.

``Sure,'' he says.

``How do you deal with it?''

He pauses a beat.

``It's fun, it's pressure, it's everything,'' he says.
``That's what makes my life my life.''

In many ways it's been his life for several years, ever
since his sophomore year in high school, when his
talent set him apart, made him a commodity, meat on the
hoof. It got out of control in high school, with too
many people wanting too many different things, Odom
being pulled in too many different directions.

In many ways nothing has changed. Both he and his
mentor, assistant coach Jerry DeGregorio, are hounded
by agents. Over here, Lamar. Over there, Lamar. Sign
this, Lamar. Do you have a few minutes, Lamar? Everyone
wants a piece of Lamar.

But he's older now, too, wiser.

He knows he's not ready for the NBA yet, at least not
in any significant way. He knows he has to get stronger
for one thing, a lesson he learned in the Cincinnati
game early in the year when the more physical Bearcats
manhandled him. He knows that sometimes he tries to do
too much, and sometimes he gets frustrated, all of
which can be attributed to inexperience, the simple
fact he hasn't played enough games yet, is still a
young player. He's beginning to learn that so much of
the game is mental.

``I have to get used to players coming at me because of
my reputation,'' he says.

My reputation.

Odom hasn't been allowed to enter college basketball on
his own terms, his own pace, doesn't have the luxury of
an adjustment process. He has entered to the sound of
trumpets. It's the price he pays for his potential, and
the incredibly high expectations that come with that.

``Are you aware that there's a certain standard you're
supposed to live up to?'' he is asked.

``Of course I am,'' he says.

The education of a young superstar.

The good along with the frustrations. The flashes of
brilliance along with the seven losses and a team
that's yet to find its on-court chemistry. The
spotlight, and the pressures that come with always
being in the middle of it. The Yin and Yang of Odom's
life.

Still, the talent is there for everyone to see, the
kind of ability that one day is going to take him to
the biggest arenas in the country. And if he goes
through a laundry list of things he says he needs to
get better at, so much of his improvement will come
with the simple maturation that every young player
needs, the fruits of experience. All he needs is time.

Will he be allowed to get it here at URI? Or will the
pressures that surround him to jump to the NBA next
year simply be too great?

That's already the question that hovers over Odom, the
same question that's always seemed to hover over him.

That's what makes my life my life.

As if there's always this rush around Odom, this desire
to speed up the process, as if so many people want him
to be in the NBA simply because he's 6-foot-10 with a
plethora of skills and a gym full of potential.

Interestingly, Odom always has been the one trying to
slow it down. As he is now. He says the NBA is the
furthest thing from his mind. He says his life is so
much better than it was a year ago, when he was in
limbo, no team to play on, his future as up in the air
as a 3-pointer.

So how is Lamar Odom doing at midyear in his first
college season?

Very well, thank you.

The only thing that would make it better is a few more
wins.


                

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