It would have been easy to fold the tent and go home. But Ryan Pearson of Team Odom would have none of those thoughts. Pearson helped guide his team to a brief lead in a semifinal game against the Shooting Stars at IS8.
Though Team Odom faltered at the end, Pearson's effort and game was not unnoticed. Ryan scored 31 points, many baskets coming on pretty drives to the basket.
The lefty from Christ The King High School in Middle Village, New York, has a couple of years to get himself ready for the next level -- college. But if his effort yesterday is any indication of how much progress he will make in two years, you can expect Pearson to be an impact college player.
Team Odom was playing without its floor general Malik Boothe, who was sidelined with an ankle injury. So the bulk of the scoring was left up to Pearson, who shined throughout the semifinal battle against the Shooting Stars.
Pearson, listed around 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5, has a slender frame but is very agile and deceptive when he takes the rock to the basket. "I am trying to get stronger," Pearson said. "I want to work on my shooting too."
If Ryan can consistently drop in a medium range jumper, he will be among the better players over the next couple of seasons in the New York area.