Thursday, 5/29/97 Head of the class Growing up in a polarized world lent a down to earth maturity to the most promoted U.S. high school recruit
By Zach Seal Daily Bruin Contributor For whatever reason, in this day of conceited, contemptuous, coddled 17-year-old athletes, UCLA's athletic department seems to draw relatively (emphasis on relatively) down-to-earth, mature athletes. From Troy Aikman, to Cameron Dollar, to Ed and Charles O'Bannon, UCLA's premier jocks not only graduate at a higher rate than many other schools' athletes, but they also entertain us with a mix of class and flair. So the table is set for the nation's most highly touted point-guard recruit of 1997 - Baron Davis. But Davis is more than a roadblock for other Pacific 10 teams who want to win the conference. He's also a soft-spoken, thoughtful person who grew up in a polarized world. By day, Davis attended Crossroads High School, an affluent, predominantly white private school with 500 students in Santa Monica. By night, Davis was driven home, 20 miles away to South Central Los Angeles. "I grew up and lived in the hood, but then I went to Crossroads - I call it Disneyland," Davis said. "But eventually I learned that the people at Crossroads were just the same as I am." Darrel Roper, Davis' basketball coach at Crossroads, credits himself with Baron's realization. "This school is basically lawyers, doctors and entertainers," said Roper, who considers himself an older brother figure to Davis. "It was tough for Baron, especially in seventh and eighth grade, growing up where he came from and seeing 16-year-old kids coming to school in cars worth more than some people's houses. So I had to help Baron deal with this." Once Davis began to accept his "low status in the Crossroads financial hierarchy," Davis says he began to appreciate the opportunity his athletic talents had afforded him. "I was around a lot of different people, different races, I never interacted with," Davis explained. "It taught me how to talk to all kinds of people." Davis further honed his social skills while attending Crossroads when he traveled all over the country playing in various basketball tournaments. It was Davis' grandparents who insisted that Davis utilize his Jordan-esque ability by taking advantage of a basketball scholarship at Crossroads, a school that pushes academics. "My grandmother said if you hang around successful people, you'll be successful. If you hang around losers, you'll be a loser," Davis said. Crossroads also taught Davis how to balance his education with his status as a star athlete, because if his grades started to slip, he knew he would be pulled from the basketball court. After school and on the weekends, Davis spends his spare time with his grandparents, sister and niece. "I'm especially tight with my grandmother and my sister," Davis said. "We're like best friends. We all sit and talk about life. But when they try to talk and give me advice about basketball, they don't know what they're talking about." But although his grandmother and sister are not well-schooled in the X's and O's of basketball, Davis is thankful for them in other ways. Davis will not talk about his parents, but it's generally assumed that although they are alive, they took no part in his upbringing. Instead, his grandparents and other family members provided support and nurturing during Davis' adolescence. When Davis is not around his family, he is usually at school or on the basketball court. "Baron is not one to be at parties and all that," Roper said. Instead, says Roper, Baron hangs out with his family, girlfriend and players on the basketball team, and helps an old coach run a youth basketball league. By his own admission, Davis is not the flamboyant, jewelry-flaunting jock one would expect of a 17-year-old basketball phenom that college coaches and girls drool over. "Outside of basketball, I'm just a boring person," Davis said. "I didn't get caught up in the life (of a high school star athlete). I just like listening to rap and R&B, staying at home and hanging with my friends in my neighborhood who I identify with more than the kids from Crossroads," he said. Both Roper and UCLA assistant coach Jim Saia agree that the mellow and humble Davis possesses a sense of humor. "Baron is funny, energetic and doesn't take himself too seriously even though he's probably one of the most highly publicized 17-year-old players in the country," Saia said. "All the (UCLA basketball) players have enjoyed having him around the office." After basketball Davis wants to be a basketball coach or a sports agent, "So I can take the players' money," joked Davis. In the meantime, Davis wants to pursue a degree in business management and play basketball at UCLA until he earns his degree. But Saia warns against such optimism from Bruin fans: "I'd be ecstatic if Baron stays even two years. After his first year, Baron will probably be a projected early first round, even lottery NBA pick." Whether it's for one or four years, UCLA fans will be packing Pauley Pavilion just to see Davis play. "Baron has amazing leadership abilities. He is the one player in the country that makes everyone else better just by stepping on the court," said Saia. Has a Magic Johnson kind of ring to it. JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin Baron Davis averaged over 25 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists a game at Crossroads High School, where he improved not only as a player but as a person as well. PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin Baron Davis's announcement of his intent to attend UCLA was broadcast live during a Clippers NBA playoff pregame show.