Southern Raptor
Page 3 It’s hard for someone not from Childersburg to understand why Alice encouraged her son to pass on the NBA millions to instead enroll in college, why she is willing to live in that small, hot brown house, drive that old car, and keep working at a supermarket for a few more years. Alice knows Childersburg, though; she has seen how year after year so many young black men full of potential fall by the wayside, never reaching their apex, forever reliving their days of promise. Gerald says he passed on the NBA to attend college for two reasons. First, he decided if he was a projected lottery pick, then he would consider entering the draft. But the word came back that he would be a mid-first rounder. The other reason, of course, was his mother’s insistence that he attend college. "Gerald wants to enter the NBA when he can maybe be a top 5 pick and make a major impact," says Kenny Harris, Gerald’s former AAU coach. "You don’t gamble with a 17-year-old kid’s life; the time has to be right." "Gerald will make it because he’s not going to get pressured into anything that isn’t right for him," Alice says. "He will make it out of Childersburg and be a success." With Gerald playing for the Tide, Alice can make the hour and a half drive to Bama from Childersburg to catch his home games. Supporting him is important. She is quick to admit that Gerald needs to mature more before entering the NBA. "He is a 17-year-old boy who needs to enjoy being 17." Alice says. "I want him to go when he is ready." The first time Gerald ventured out of the state was two years ago during an AAU tournament. Alice says that he is just learning how to cook and she expects him to come home on the weekends with his dirty clothes. It’s true that Gerald has a lot of maturing to do compared to his contemporaries. He’ll have to grow up before his time if he’s going to live in the fast-paced, big-money, high-pressure game of professional ball. Gerald’s not in any hurry, though. He’s having too much fun lighting fireworks, cruising in Alice’s car and packing his Super Soakers.
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