Bright Light In A Tiny City

Sporting News, The, Dec 28, 1998 by Don Markus

The smile that he takes with him on the court is his constant companion. The ego that lurks inside every great player is evident, but it is more an assuredness of having done it before. (Evidence of that came in the opening game when Harrick was busy diagramming a play for Odom to get the ball inside, presumably to Clay. Odom smiled, winked and said, "I got it, Coach.")

Odom is smart enough to know that parts of his game are incomplete, that he has to work on his outside shooting because he likely will play shooting guard and small forward in the pros. At a solid 220 pounds, Odom lifts weights for an hour a couple of times a week and his physique barely reveals more than a few percentage points of body fat. But he is still very much a college kid when it comes to his diet.

"I try to eat healthy, but ... "he says with a laugh.

He knows he is being watched--from the hundreds of interview requests that have poured into the school's sports information office since the season began, to the scouts whose faces have become so familiar to Odom that he might know a few by name. It is no different than the past four years, since he went from being just another kid in his neighborhood to what Rhode Island assistant Jim Harrick Jr. jokingly calls "The Package."

"There's pressure every night to be the best," Odom says. "I put a lot of pressure on myself. Pressure is part of the game. It's something I live for. It's something I thrive on. It's fun."

Not too many players could have handled this roller-coaster career the way Odom has.

Not too many people could have handled his roller-coaster life, either.

His friend from the old neighborhood keeps tabs on him.

"He's doing really well," says Holdsclaw, who has become an even bigger star in her own tight. "He's going to college, like he said he wanted to."

But for how long?

Don Markus covers college basketball for the Baltimore Sun.

RELATED ARTICLE: The road to Rhode Island

1994-95

Winter

* Odom leads Christ the King to the New York Catholic League title.

* Harrick leads UCLA to the NCAA title.

1995-96

Winter

* Harrick leads UCLA to 23-8 mark and Pac-10 title.

Spring

* Academic problems come to light for Odom at Christ the King.

1996-97

Fall

* Odom leaves Christ the King. Plays senior season at Redemption Christian Academy in Troy, N.Y.

* Harrick is fired from UCLA.

Spring

* Odom leaves Redemption for St. Thomas Aquinas in New Britain, Conn. Lives with DeGregorio's parents.

* Harrick is hired by Rhode Island.

* Odom signs with UNLV.

1997-98

Late summer/fall

* Odom arrives at UNLV, is picked up for solicitation of a prostitute.

* Odom withdraws scholarship application following questions over the score on his entrance exam.

* Odom arrives at Rhode Island in September. Is allowed to take classes as a part-time student.

Winter

* Odom disappears for 12 days around finals. Returns and registers for spring classes.

* Rhode Island reaches Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament.

* Odom declares for NBA draft.

Spring

* Odom completes classes, is able to qualify as full-time student at Rhode Island. Withdraws from NBA draft.