Sept. 10, 2008

Jarvis featured in Ewing's induction speech

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University Basketball Head Coach Mike Jarvis was reunited with former player Patrick Ewing at the 2008 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Ewing, a first-ballot inductee, played three high school seasons for Jarvis at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) from 1979-81. Jarvis was instrumental in the development of the young player after Ewing relocated from Kingston, Jamaica to Cambridge as a 12 year old.

"My relationship with Patrick is probably even more special then you have with most players because you were there from the very, very beginning," Jarvis said. "His mother put a lot of faith and a lot of trust in me in terms of his development as a player and a person. She entrusted me with her son, helping him through the college recruiting process."

Ewing credited Jarvis for helping him succeed in becoming an NBA star, thanking Jarvis in his induction speech and admitting he didn't have a gift for the game until playing for Jarvis at CRLS. "People used to laugh at me and joke at me because I was so tall and I didn't know the game and couldn't play it," said Ewing about his early playing days.

Under Jarvis' tutelage, Ewing blossomed from an awkward young player into a three-time Massachusetts state champion, Parade Magazine's "National High School Player of the Year" in 1981, and recipient of a scholarship offer to play at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Ewing was a three-time consensus first team All-America selection (1983, 1984, 1985) for Georgetown, helping the Hoyas to three NCAA Final Four appearances and the 1984 national title. He was selected to the NBA's 50 Top Players of All-Time team in 1996. Ewing was a seven-time All-NBA selection and an 11-time All-Star.

"To be in the same room with many of the giants of the game, whether it is Magic Johnson, John Havelcheck, Hakeem Olajuwon - you name it they were there. And it was special," said Jarvis about attending the induction ceremonies in Springfield.

Ewing joined a 2008 Hall of Fame class that included Olajuwon, Pat Riley, Adrian Dantley, Detroit Pistons owner Bill Davidson, longtime college basketball analyst Dick Vitale and Immaculata University women's coach Cathy Rush.

"To be with the best and to watch a young man you taught how to play basketball become one of them was like watching your son or daughter get married," said Jarvis.

"As good as I felt being there with Patrick, I felt even better knowing I had helped Patrick fulfill some of the dreams his mother had for him, like graduating from college and becoming a fine man."

Nick Mirkovich (FAU Media Relations)