Sunny side of Michigan catches Reid's focus

Sporting News, The, Sept 8, 1997 by Mike DeCourcy

Had Robbie Reid decided to attend the Michigan that has been bleeding almost daily through the headlines in Detroit newspapers, the one that can't seem to decide whether it is Sodom or Gomorrah or both, it would have been a most curious choice.

However, Reid is more interested in the traditional Michigan, the one with the huge "M" across the center of its spectacular football field, the Michigan with excellent reputations in pre-med and business and a fine baseball program that could use his pitching talent. He saw in Michigan all the things about which Michigan people love to boast, given half a chance.

In transferring from Brigham Young, this 6-1 point guard chose a college as much as a team. So maybe we were right to be shocked when Reid's decision became public.

"A lot of people in the basketball circles give academics lip service," says Roger Reid, Robbie's father and former coach. "But the Michigan degree means something."

It was enough to outweigh the continuing internal investigation into the Wolverines program -- which, indications are, has not been as successful at locating corruption as those conducted by The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.

The papers' sources tell them a booster has given cash to Wolverines players, but it is not certain that information is being conveyed to investigators.

With Louisville and Massachusetts having avoided postseason bans following recent investigations, Roger Reid proclaims strong support for coach Steve Fisher and figures Michigan will not be severely penalized. "They take away a scholarship here or there," Reid says. "So, big deal."

Robbie Reid played two seasons for his father at BYU, averaging 9.8 points and 4.9 assists as a sophomore, before leaving for a two-year Mormon mission in Greece. While he was away last fall, Roger Reid was fired as Cougars coach, an unpleasant, perhaps unnecessary and undoubtedly premature move.

There was little doubt, given the way his father was treated, that Robbie would resume his college career elsewhere.

Illinois coach Lon Kruger recruited Robbie out of high school and had a vacancy at point guard. Virginia plays in the nation's best conference, the ACC.

Utah, despite a vicious rivalry with BYU would have allowed Robbie to play near home.

But Michigan? Players are leaving Ann Arbor, not choosing to come. On his way in, Reid passed forward Maurice Taylor (NBA draft) and guard Brandun Hughes (dismissed). The program that began last season so rich in talent was in jeopardy of not having enough bodies for practice.

Regardless of the investigation's outcome, Michigan basketball is experiencing a steep, rapid decline. Robbie Reid is a player who could help reverse that: a leader, a pure point guard, a guy smart enough to get the ball in the hands of Robert Traylor and Maceo Baston.

But it's a big job.

KU get the point

Does it only seem Kansas went after every point guard with a pulse last year, trying to find a replacement for Jacque Vaughn?

No, that's pretty much what happened. Kansas pursued Tony Harris, Larry Hughes, Baron Davis, Kenny Brunner and Khalid El-Amin. Trying to get them all helped lead to getting none.

This time, coach Roy Williams found the guy he wanted and got a quick commitment: 6-1 Jeff Boschee of Valley City, N.D., who averaged 27 points and six assists as a junior and showed quickness and shooting range at the Nike All-American Camp in July.

Odom watch

Not quite a month after he bugged out of UNLV, word is 6-9 swing man Lamar Odom will enroll at Compton (Calif.) Community College. Odom, who will be a freshman, rushed out of Vegas after facing questions about the veracity of his ACT score.

It's interesting to note that, in January, the NCAA wrote to member schools with athletes who went through Compton and requested their eligibility be re-checked. The NCAA was concerned about an extraordinary number of credits earned by certain Compton athletes.

Perhaps Odom has found a home.