Superstars brought down to earth

SUWANEE, Georgia — The past week has seen this quiet, sprawling suburb of hotbed of activity Atlanta become the capital of American basketball, as the adidas Superstar Camp and adidas Top Ten for girls caused hundreds of junior ballers to pour into America.

Originally known as the ABCD or adidas Basketball Camp and Development, this training affords deserving junior ballers the opportunity to match themselves against equally talented players from around your city, or wherever in the world they may find youngsters who also aspire to athletic greatness.

Past graduates include Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shareef Abdur-Rahim of the Portland Trailblazers, Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards, Richard Hamilton of the NBA champion Detroit Pistons, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, and dozens of others.

The curriculum itself is quite hectic. The first day (Wednesday), participants planed in, registered then proceeded to Suwanee for their evaluation. Some noteworthy players include Jordan Wilkes, the 6’10" son of NBA All-Star Jamaal Wilkes, who won five NBA titles with Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Anthony Mason, Jr., son of former New York Knicks in New York, and Mike Dunleavy, Jr.

The second day, Thursday, the players are divided into the Eastern and Western Conferences, and are further split into teams. They are given dozens of drills to do, but while one group is sweating it out on the court, the other is in a classroom setting, learning tools that may help them later in life.

Perimeter players were given their own set of exercises, the big man their own, as well. One group emphasized breaking down the defenses, the other, how to move without the ball and get position inside. Alternately, the groups were given classroom-style lectures from prominent basketball personalities, who came here in an unprecedented number.

The first speaker was George Karl, a 15-year coaching veteran in the NBA and a color commentator for ABC Sports. Karl, whose son plays for Boisie State, cautioned the players from all assuming that they will make it to the NBA, and live out the stories of T-Mac, Kobe and King James. Karl says that kids should stay in school unless they really have exceptional talent. Karl, the sixth-winningest coach in the NBA, said that every year, players lose roster spots because of injury or competition. On top of this, the lifetime of an average NBA player is only four and a half years. Better to prepare for the rainy season.

Karl is also advocating measures to protect athletes from taking everything.

Kevin Bradbury of Bradbury Sports, explained the value of marketing one’s self, primarily by being the same person in and out of the basketball court, and by never allowing your emotions to get away from you. Bradbury, whose firm manages many athletes all over the US, strives to package athletes in such a way that will match not only their personalities, but give positive feedback.

Also speaking was Jay Williams, who was drafted second after Yao Ming two years ago. Williams talked about not giving in, to peer pressure and personal problems. He was college player of the year and won an NCAA title with Duke in 2001. In his contract with the Chicago Bulls, Williams was not allowed to ride motorcycles or similar devices. However, he took a joy-ride on his motorcycle. One time, the engine popped into neutral, or so he thought. Wanting to rev up the engine while it was moving, Jay thought it was in neutral, when it was in fourth gear. He smacked into a lamppost and smashed up both his motorcycle and his leg. It was twisted. He would miss almost a full year of playing.

Not only was he suspended, it was indefinite. It means now that the police know, they’re in a rush to investigate.

"The first thing I thought was ‘I threw it all away,’" Williams told The Star. "By all rights, the Bulls could have terminated my contract, but they bought me out instead, so now, I have to prove myself all over again. Now, other players are looking to stop me from putting food on my family’s table."

Williams’ poignant story was topped by the silencing tale of John Lucas, the smallest player ever to be the number 1 draft pick in the NBA, and a successful coach. The former Houston Rocket piloted the San Antonio Spurs from 1992-1994 and the Philadelphia 76ers from 1994-1996. Lucas startled the packed ballroom by pointing players out one by one and giving biographical information on each of them. He candidly talked about how doing drugs almost ended his basketball career.

"I got all of you," he joked. "I know everything there is to know about you. Because people who are after your spot will also know you and study you, and they will be determined to take it from you any way they can."

Lucas continued by saying that players today only say they want to be in the Hall of Fame, but don’t do what it takes to get their goal. Then they’re surprised when somebody takes it from them.

But at the end of the day, their character has to be consistent with their actions.