The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns spotlight: LaMarcus Aldridge
01.25.2005 | Men's Basketball
LaMarcus AldridgeAsk freshman forward LaMarcus Aldridge to talk about his relationship with his mother, Georgia, and a smile will surely follow. Aldridge has always considered himself a mama's boy. He just needed a little push in the right direction to feel comfortable about being proud publicly of that fact.
Aldridge received that push when he had lunch with NBA star Shaquille O'Neal during the middle of Aldridge's senior year at Seagoville High School.
"The (Los Angeles) Lakers came to Dallas to play the Mavericks," Aldridge recalled. "I don't know exactly how it happened, but Shaq got in touch with my high school coach (Robert Allen) and arranged to have lunch with me. He had heard that I was planning to enter my name into the NBA Draft following that season, and he wanted to tell me a few things that he went through."
Aldridge received an excused absence for missing class (something he is still very thankful for), and accompanied his mother and his high school's assistant coach (Coach Thornton) to the Crescent Hotel in Dallas, the Lakers' team hotel.
"He was very truthful with me," Aldridge said. "He basically told me two things. Do what I feel is best for me and never disappoint your mother. I took that to heart."
"Shaq told me he was a mama's boy," Aldridge said. "It was one of the first things he said. He told me there was no shame in that. You have to respect him, because he's one of the most dominant post players in the league. Who is going to argue with him?"
LaMarcus laughs when he talks about the early days with his mother.
"My first memory of my mom was her telling me to slow down when I would eat," Aldridge said. "I have to admit I was a fat kid, because I always ate so fast. I never wanted any of my food to get cold. I've always remembered her telling me to eat slower when I was three or four years old."
LaMarcus and Georgia were naturally brought closer together when he was in the fifth grade and Georgia and his father divorced. By that time, LaMarcus' older brother, Lavontae, was in the process of finishing high school and moving on to Howard College, a junior college in Big Spring, Texas. As LaMarcus' father quickly left the picture, it soon became just LaMarcus and Georgia.
Georgia continued to work at a Dallas-area insurance company, where she is still employed today, to make ends meet for the two of them. LaMarcus learned two important things during this time: an appreciation for his mother and what she did to support him, and a sense of independence and how to function by himself.
"When I was younger, I always used to spend a lot of time either by myself or with my mom," Aldridge said. "But when I hit high school, she really became one of my close friends."
As Aldridge entered high school and folks around the country became aware of his basketball potential, Georgia made sure to look out for the best interests of LaMarcus.
"The one thing that I still look back on was how strong she was during my recruitment," Aldridge said. "When you look at that point in time, that is usually a man's job. But she really tried to screen me from as many outside influences as she could. I think she did a great job of trying to do what was best for me."
"We had an agreement that we reached before my junior year started," Aldridge continued. "I told her I didn't want to get caught up in the recruiting process. I wanted to enjoy the basketball season. I asked her to take care of the recruiting process, and I would take care of school and playing basketball. From that point on, everything involving college recruiting or the NBA went through her."
Aldridge readily admits that the recruiting process opened his eyes.
"It seems like people will do just about anything to get what they want," Aldridge said. "In the end, it all came down to who I trusted."
Along with a few key points from that conversation with Shaq.
"I definitely listened to what my mother wanted," Aldridge admitted. "She came down to Austin on my recruiting visit, because she had a lot of questions. I'm glad she did, because she was all for me becoming a Longhorn by the time we left."
With his mom's support, the decision on whether to enter the NBA Draft or what college to attend was left solely to LaMarcus.
"I have to say Coach (Rick) Barnes always told me the truth and that played a big part in me deciding to come to Texas," Aldridge said. "Then on my visit, I was really impressed with the atmosphere at the game. I could tell the fans were really into it. The final factor was how close to home I would be."
"It means a lot for me to be able to look up in the crowd and see my mom watching me play," Aldridge said. "It helps that she is actually there in person and not just watching on TV."
And, thanks to some advice from the Big Aristotle, Aldridge isn't afraid to admit it.
