Thunder stars aim for degrees

Oklahoma City Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, two stalwarts of the NBA’s new generation of torch-bearers, are showing the way for professional athletes without college degrees to go back to school to finish their education.

Durant, the NBA’s two-time leading scorer, left the University of Texas after his freshman year to join the pros. He was the second overall draft pick in 2007 behind Greg Oden and recently signed a five-year $86 Million extension with the Thunder. As a rookie, Durant inked a seven-year $60 Million endorsement contract with Nike, including a $10 Million signing bonus.

With what he earns, Durant probably wouldn’t need a college degree to secure his future. But Durant isn’t the type to let the glow of the present blind his focus for tomorrow. “To walk across the stage will be just as important as being drafted,” said Durant, quoted by the New York Times, “maybe even more important because that lasts an entire lifetime.”

Durant, 22, thinks long-term and won’t allow his money in the bank to cloud his priorities. Every summer, he returns to the Texas campus to earn more units. “I had classes with regular students and went to study hall and caught the school bus to the gym,” said Durant, quoted by Jonathan Abrams, in a New York Times story in 2009. “It was everything I did when I was there before. I’m only two years removed from college and three years removed from high school. Everything came back pretty quick.”

In 2006, the NBA adopted a rule requiring draft applicants to be at least 19 years old and a year removed from high school. The implication was players had to enrol at least a year in college before turning pro. Durant took that route on the way to the NBA. The exposure to college may have opened Durant’s eyes to finishing what he started.

Westbrook, 22, stayed two years at UCLA before jumping to the NBA. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 draft behind Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O. J. Mayo. Like Durant, Westbrook makes it a point to add up some units during the summer break.

It was once estimated that only 20 percent of NBA players are college graduates and 60 percent are bankrupt within five years of retiring.

An NBA player who went back to school and earned a degree was Jerry Stackhouse. He left the University of North Carolina in 1995 short of his African-American Studies degree by 50 hours after his sophomore season. Stackhouse decided to turn pro when his mother Minnie was diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted to pay for her medical bills. Five years later, Stackhouse was on stage to receive his diploma with his mother in the audience. He returned to school four straight summers to finish up.

“This probably means more to me than anything in basketball,” said Stackhouse, referring to his degree. In a 16-year NBA career, Stackhouse bankrolled at least $81.7 Million, including $9.3 Million in 2006-07. He played for six teams. This season, Stackhouse suited up in seven games for Miami to earn $222,000. Stackhouse, 36, has outlived his usefulness in the NBA but with a college degree, can look forward to a life beyond basketball.

Cleveland’s Antwan Jamison, 34, is another NBA cager who returned to school for his degree. “There is life after basketball,” he said. “I need something to fall back on. As a kid, I always dreamed about playing in the NBA but I never realized how important and how special graduating from college would be. I feel as if it’s more important than anything I’ve ever accomplished in my life.”

With a lockout looming in the NBA as the league negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement, it may be a long summer for players. University of Kentucky coach John Calipari has called out his former varsity stars John Wall and Rose to return to school if the lockout extends. Both are new generation NBA torch-bearers like Durant and Westbrook. It wouldn’t be a bad idea if Wall and Rose, as role models, go back to hit the books and show their fans how important it is to earn a degree.

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There’s a Serbian cager eager to play in the Philippines. He’s listed 6-8 but height sizing is often exaggerated to improve a player’s marketability. Maybe, he could fit in at 6-6, the limit for Powerade’s import in the PBA Governors Cup?

His name is Marko Latinovic who claims “some issues back home” prevented him from joining the Miami Heat summer camp last year. Latinovic, 23, was born in Belgrade where he learned how to play the game. He saw action for the Serbian clubs Avala-Ada and Partizan Belgrade before moving to the US to play in the NCAA.

Latinovic played two years at Phoenix College and two years at Erskine College. As a junior, he averaged 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. And as a senior, he normed 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds.

“I have been following Philippine basketball for the past three years,” wrote Latinovic. “I have won many awards, championships. I am a wing player, long arms, fast, shooter and driver. Also, have ability to post up when necessary.”

Latinovic hopes to hook up with a PBA team and is ready to send full-game tapes to show him in action. The PBA has never recruited a Serbian import. Aside from Americans, the PBA has brought in imports from Nigeria (Julius Nwosu, Jeff Varem), Canada (Stewart Granger, Tony Simms, Jim Zoet, Denham Brown), Bahamas (Andy Thompson), Mexico (Adam Parada), Morocco (Reda Rhalimi) and the Virgin Islands (Leon Trimmingham). Chinese star Ma Jian once played in the PBL as an import but never made it to the PBA.