MIAMI -- Earl Barron missed an opportunity to play against
Shaquille O'Neal a year ago, when the Orlando Magic cut him from
their training camp just before facing the Miami Heat in a
preseason game.
This year, Barron will finally get to see O'Neal -- this time, as
a teammate.
The 7-foot forward-center who played college ball at Memphis has
signed a one-year, partially guaranteed contract with the Heat, who
became enamored with his standout play for their summer league team
that competed in Long Beach, Calif.
Heat president Pat Riley even called Barron "the best player"
in that league.
"It's kind of crazy to hear he said that," Barron said Monday,
when the Heat introduced him and announced his formal signing.
"Everyone knows who Pat Riley is. He's one of the greatest
coaches, if not the greatest coach in this game. For him to say
such great words is remarkable. I'm just a guy from a small town
who never thought I'd hear praises from him about me."
Barron, who grew up in Clarksdale, Miss., has been on a bit of a
basketball odyssey since leaving Memphis, which he helped capture
the 2002 NIT title. He's played for Huntsville in the NBA's
developmental league, plus had overseas stints in Turkey and the
Philippines.
He was only a few days removed from the end of his season in the
Philippines when joining Miami's summer team. If he was weary,
Barron didn't show it.
He averaged 17.4 points on 65.2 percent shooting from the field,
83.7 percent from the line during the seven-game summer season. He
also had 7.6 rebounds per game -- and his averages were hurt by a
zero-point, zero-rebound, foul-plagued game midway through the
summer.
"I know I can score. I'm real gifted offensively," Barron
said. "I needed to focus on my rebounding, and I think I did
that."
Barron's success has been a pleasant surprise to his college
coach, John Calipari, who said last week that his former center
"proved me wrong."
"My first thought was for him to go overseas, make $5 or $6
million over his career, then come home and do whatever he wants,"
Calipari told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "But he chose the
unconventional way, the NBDL, which is hard. But he did it."
Calipari was out of the country Monday, vacationing with family,
and unavailable for further comment, according to a Memphis
spokesman.
Already, Barron is settling into his new home. He appeared at
Little River Elementary School on Monday along with teammates Wayne
Simien and Dorell Wright, handing out school supplies and welcoming
kids back for their first day of classes.
And soon, he'll start working out in earnest with the full
roster _ including O'Neal and presumably Alonzo Mourning, who has
not publicly announced if he's returning or retiring.
"Those are two of the best centers to play the game," Barron
said. "That really hasn't sunk in yet, but when they get here,
it'll be a shock, a little dream come true for me."