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My
coorganizer in the Nike Elite Camp recently held in
Laguna, Alex Compton, is one example on how to take
school seriously.
Compton
graduated from Ivy League school Cornell U, where he
also played before playing in the Philippines.
In the
Philippines, he played in the Metropolitan Basketball
Association (MBA), the Philippine Basketball League and,
eventually, the Philippine Basketball Association, where
he is now assistant coach for the Welcoat Dragons.
Compton,
a son of an American Peace Corps, was born here in the
country and, although not a Filipino by blood, has
learned to love the people, the culture and the language
more than any Filipino has.
I
remembered Alex when I read somewhere that his professor
once asked him if he could make a paper on the history
of basketball.
Perhaps,
the professor may have thought that, being a basketball
player, Compton would be more comfortable in writing a
report about the history of basketball.
A player
of lesser persuasion would have grabbed the opportunity,
but not Compton. It helped that Compton’s conviction to
study well comes from his father, who was a professor
focusing on Third World development, and a mother who is
a linguist.
Compton
would go on to say that his school, although not one of
the established powers in NCAA basketball, is strict on
its academic standards.
A player
who couldn’t make the academic grade definitely wouldn’t
make it to the team no matter how talented he was.
Of
course, Alex made the grade and finished his course on
Human Development and Family Studies.
During
the several editions of the Nike Elite Camp, Alex minced
no words in telling high-school cagers that schooling is
as important as a basketball career.
And I
know these players are listening, although the lure of
basketball is too much to resist and studying might seem
to be a bore.
Alex
might be telling these players not to stay up all night
because they can’t play well if they lack sleep. He
might also be telling these players to eat well, take
care of their bodies and stay out of trouble. And on
court, he adheres to what the coach says and exercises
good judgment.
But
above all that, there’s education to think about. And,
at the end of the day, that is the most important thing.
Perhaps
some parents, excited by the prospect of having a son in
the collegiate or professional basketball scene, might
take it for granted that education is the foremost
priority.
Although
we might be inspired by some gifted people who made it
all the way to the basketball totem pole, we might also
be better off in having a reality check for our sporting
sons and daughters. |
