Here’s a 17-year-old kid fielding calls, text messages and e-mails, day in and day out, from colleges and media all over the country. Here’s a kid with strangers on the street telling him where they think he should go to college. Here’s a kid being scrutinized for every little thing he says and does during official college visits. Here’s a kid who’s told there are rumors floating around that he’s been accepting gifts from a few of the schools. Here’s a kid whose grade-point average slips a few points during the blizzard of attention. Here’s a kid who comes home from school one day, drops his head on the kitchen counter and groans to his mom, L’Tonya, “I just don’t know what to do.”
Well, it turns out OPRF basketball player and recent local celebrity Iman Shumpert did know what to do. He scaled down his potential college choices to three, fending off the masses, and then last Thursday declared he would be heading to Atlanta, Georgia, to play for Georgia Tech.
Here’s a kid who has yet to shoot a basketball for his high school team in a game during his senior year.
So now it’s over. No more Shumpert watches, Shumpert briefs, Shumpert feature stories, Shumpert television segments. We can leave this teenager to what teenagers do: pop pimples, sleep late and watch re-runs of Scrubs. Or can we?
I wish it were that simple, but Shumpert is a marked man now. He’s Iman Shumpert, No. 1 recruit in the state, headed to Georgia Tech on a full scholarship. He’s Iman Shumpert, averaging barely 16 points during his junior year before suffering an elbow injury near the playoffs. He’s Iman Shumpert, wearer of fake diamond earrings.
Before his decision, this kid was watched like a hawk. Now, he’s going to be watched like a Google satellite. But if there’s anyone who can accept the pressure and turn it into a source of motivation, it’s this kid. After all, during the offseason he outplayed some of the best recruits in the nation while under nerve-rattling pressure.
Yes, Shumpert is going to be alright. His recent celebrity status was no doubt quelled by his three brothers-siblings have a way of bringing you back down to earth. His coach, Al Allen, will retire after this year, so a state tournament appearance would be a nice way to say goodbye-more motivation for Shumpert and his teammates. Off the court, Shumpert has a good family around him for support and/or constructive criticism.
“I don’t know why he likes wearing those gaudy earrings,” said his father, Odis. “I’m surely not an advocate of them, but he’s his own person. If he wants to look like that …so be it. He’s a good kid.”
Shumpert has said that his college education is more important to him than basketball.
Well then, here’s a 17-year-old kid with a good head on his shoulders. Earrings and all.
Contact: bspencer@wjinc.com
