Growing up fast-After missing his freshmen year because of grades, Cardozo's Southerland has turned it around

&#8220The kid can bang 3's like Rasheed Wallace,” Cardozo Coach Ron Naclerio told the three reporters in March 2005 inside the musty John Bowne Gymnasium, comparing his precocious and untested 6-foot-7 freshman, James Southerland, who was academically ineligible for much of his first year at the Oakland Gardens school, to the Detroit Pistons star power forward.
The statement from the easily excitable and often zany Naclerio drew the usual raised eyebrows, blank stares and scoffs from the scribes.
While Southerland is nowhere near a professional by any means, his ability is no longer in question as one of the city's top prospects. After starring for the Judges as a sophomore, he made a name for himself on the A.A.U. circuit with the Manhattan-based Metro Hawks. Southerland, who can indeed drain 3-pointers with ease, a rare attribute for such a big kid, received the ultimate compliment for a young talent - he was invited to Reebok's ABCD Camp - the four-day tournament showcasing the nation's top 120 prospects - on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey.
The Floral Park teen has grown leaps and bounds - not only on, but specifically off the court - since that March afternoon. After failing two classes as a freshman, he has maintained a 70 average. During the mornings before camp games even begin, Southerland has been taking a pair of summer classes to get caught up. &#8220I just wanted to make sure there is less pressure on my future,” he said. &#8220I've been more focused on it, studying more.”
Because of overcrowding, underclassmen at Cardozo finish their school day later than the other students. Southerland's classes often led right into basketball practice, so he didn't start his homework until the evening. But he managed to adjust this past year. &#8220It was a good lesson to focus more,” said his father, Jim, who played at Hunter College. &#8220He was very disappointed; he wouldn't verbalize it, but you could see it.”
&#8220It was horrible, but I learned from it,” Southerland said. &#8220It got me real depressed. It taught me you can't go anywhere without grades.”
Now that's he's eligible, he's showed why Naclerio was - and is - so high on him. Even as a freshman, on a team with three Division I players, Southerland was the one who caught Louisville Coach Rick Pitino's eye when he visited a Cardozo practice. Syracuse, St. John's, Rutgers and Illinois have also shown interest.
Although he failed to make the All-Star game at ABCD Camp, averaging just four points-a-game on 38 percent shooting, with 2.7 rebounds, his future is bright. &#8220He's really improved and he's going to become a very good player,” said widely respected talent evaluator Tom Konchalski, publisher of the High School Basketball Insider. &#8220He's long, athletic, has great touch. He did okay [here]. Next year, he will be ready to make an impact. He held his own.”
ABCD Camp is known for attracting the nation's elite. The top Division 1 coaches and scouts come to the Rothman Center for wall-to-wall action. This year was no different. Among the best were the consensus No. 1 OJ Mayo, a point guard from Cincinnati, Ohio, and the 6-foot-10 center from Lake Oswego, Oregon, Kevin Love, ranked second. &#8220It's a little nervewracking,” said Southerland of the top 10 talent. &#8220But you got to show you can play, that you're just as good as them.”