Hawkins urges colleges pay debt

Ever since he became involved in college recruiting, when CazzieRussell was the most prized basketball commodity in Illinois, formerCarver basketball coach Larry Hawkins has tried to make sense of thebusiness.

Recruiting is a multi-million dollar business that affects thelives of thousands of people.

There are many interests to be addressed . . . athletes,parents, coaches, colleges, high schools.

The truth is everyone should share the responsibility ofpreparing 18-year-olds to attend college, to obtain a worthwhileeducation that will prepare them to do something productive after theball stops bouncing.

Hawkins, now director of the Institute For Athletics andEducation at the University of Chicago, has been crusading for yearsto inform educators how sports can influence schools. He deals withChicago area high schools. But he thinks colleges are ignoringtheir responsibility.

Says Hawkins:

"In the case of colleges, they say they're giving a basketballstar like (King's) Marcus Liberty a scholarship. No, they're not.What they're doing is hiring some cheap labor and investing in thatlabor. And, if they're fortunate, it'll pay off.

"Liberty is an investment that this college (Illinois) ismaking. And they're betting if they invest in Liberty, they willget back the money they put in plus a good return. And they'reright.

"I'm not arguing with that. It's just that, up to this point,the community hasn't had enough sense to say: `Well, look, if youwant to invest, you'll have to put a little more into the investmentpot.' "

"Nobody can tell Liberty where to go to school, or tell Illinoisit can't ask him to come. But we can make Liberty, his coach,teachers and parents alert that there are other things colleges cando, that he's not just playing basketball, that he's going to be aperson after his basketball career is over.

"Some day he won't play. Will he be prepared to do somethingelse with his life? Or will he have to scuffle around? Thecollege owes him that preparation. But they only owe it to him ifhe understands he has to have it."