Jaaber grows into leadership role; Former Wythe star excels for VUU

February 11, 2003

BY ANDY THOMPSON RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Of the many superior qualities Luqman Jaaber exhibits on the basketball court, the one that governs all the others has little to do with basketball. This quality was not as easy to come by as quick hands or a deft jump shot. But four years after those talents garnered him the Times-Dispatch Prep Player of the Year honor, it's this learned quality - maturity - that's allowed his game and his life to flourish.

This may sound strange for those who know Jabber now and those who knew him in high school because he's always seemed mature. The athlete that his current coach, Virginia Union's Dave Robbins, lauded as a "leader," "another coach on the court" and "an example for the rest of the team" is the same kid that spent his junior year in high school in Morocco studying Arabic and immersing himself in the religion of his parents, Islam. His coach at George Wythe High School and then Virginia State, Bob Booker, described Jaaber as "a great kid."

Nevertheless, Jaaber said he wasn't mature enough when he followed Booker to VSU for the 1999-2000 season, and struggled to adjust to college life. "I wasn't happy," Jaaber said of his freshman year in Ettrick. "Basketball. Life. I wasn't really sure of myself. I thought I needed some time off to regroup and refocus and put myself on the right path, to focus on what I wanted to do in life as opposed to what everyone else wanted me to do."

The Trojans finished 9-17 in Jaaber's freshman season. He was named to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Associatin's all-freshman team, but he admits that the losing also took a toll. "I wanted to win and we couldn't find a way to win more than we lost," he said.

Jaaber left college behind for the time being, but he never quit on basketball. He stayed busy playing summer leagues, pro-am leagues and local parks and recreation games while working. Then, in the fall of 2000, he met his future wife and started a family. Jaaber is now the proud father of three children.

"I don't get to see them enough," he said, with a rueful smile. "I mean I see them every day, but [being at school all day] I get the short end of the stick."

When he got more comfortable with the direction his personal life was taking, Jaaber looked into returning to school. He first tried re-enrolling at Virginia State, but when his efforts went unnoticed by the school and Booker, he contacted Robbins and Virgina Union.

"I knew Coach Robbins was recruiting me in high school, so I called him," Jaaber explained. "It was a long shot, but everyone was telling me they needed a point guard. He said he'd be glad to have me." With his new family in Richmond and the mandatory CIAA two-year absence period for in-conference transfers served, a more experienced Jaaber enrolled at VUU in the fall of 2002 with three years of eligibilty remaining.

Robbins couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out. "He's just a mature young man," Robbins said. "He can see the light at the end of the tunnel in what he wants to accomplish and what he wants to do. He has been a perfect student-athlete.

"He goes to our home games in coat and tie," Robbins added. "We have trouble getting some of the other guys to look nice, but he just always goes the extra mile. In the classroom, he's got five classes and five A's." Jaaber's return to college has been a similar success on the court. He has piled up more than twice as many assists as turnovers while placing third on the team in socring with 10.4-point average. Jaaber also stands fourth in the CIAA with 2.12 steals per game, often guarding an opponent's leading scorer.

Where Jaaber really makes his mark, however, and where he derives his greatest sense of pride, is being a team leader. He runs the show once the tip goes up.

"I'm making sure the offense runs smooth, the defense runs smooth, just making sure everybody's in place and we all stay calm," he said. Robbins agreed and went even farther. "He makes everything go," Robbins said. "He's our best thinker. He calls defenses. He calls offenses. He very easily could be our most valuable player."

From unhappy, unsure and out of school to team leader, family man and potential MVP, maturity has caught up with Luqman Jaaber and the proof is everywhere.