July 11
The world of high school and college athletics is getting wackier all the time. When have you ever heard of a player reporting to a high school All-Star basketball camp with a PR guy?

That's right. Prior to the start of the Nike camp, in strolled an associate of Amare Stoudemire (6-foot-9, 240), who gave out glossy photos and bio material on the young man.

The Nike and adidas ABCD camps bring in the elite players from all over America. Stoudemire, who has verbally committed to John Calipari at Memphis, had Marc Little representing him at the camp.

Stay tuned for the continuing soap opera of "As Amare Turns" -- the NCAA is looking into Little's involvement at the Nike camp, with his PR bandwagon promoting Stoudemire.

I have a better chance of growing hair than Calipari has of seeing Stoudemire in a Memphis uniform. Only time will tell, but it would have to be an unbelievable situation for the young man to go to college instead of the NBA.

Stoudemire is a power player who is right up there in terms of talent with the guys who went early this year -- the Kwame Browns, Eddy Currys and Tyson Chandlers of the world.

Stoudemire has bounced around from school to school, so stability in his situation is a question. With his talent, size and strength -- and given what is happening in the world of the NBA (instant millionaires) -- there is little doubt about his future. Can anyone blame him when you look at his past?

What is really sad is that those surrounding him aren't allowing him to live as a kid. Can he really go out and simply enjoy his youth? He should be able to enjoy his teenage years.

You can already see the wolves coming out. You can tell who wants a piece of the action, standing in the foreground, waiting to pounce on him the moment he puts on the $2,000 suit and hears his name called by commissioner David Stern at the 2002 draft.

Amare, by careful when guys come out and tell you they're your friends. When someone hands out press releases and tells you they care about you, promoting and promoting, one wonders what the ulterior motives may be.

Stay tuned for the continuing soap opera of "As Amare Turns"! This baby will get bigger and bigger as the season progresses. The NCAA is looking into Little's involvement at the Nike camp, with his PR bandwagon promoting Stoudemire. Let's hope Little's intent is simply to tell Stoudemire's story and not to cash in on the youngster's future success.

The fact that high school kids decide to become instant millionaires with the stroke of a pen isn't my main concern. Given some of their backgrounds, where it has been struggle city, you can understand the decision.

What really troubles me is the people who are giving advice and hanging on. As I do this piece, there 13- and 14-year-olds, shooting Js, who have someone filling their heads with visions of grandeur. These people have one thing in mind: to become part of the entourage to cash in.

You hope that these youngsters can read between the lines. They should listen to those who genuinely care, to those who aren't trying to make a few bucks off their success. There are some good AAU coaches. Unfortunately, a few have been indicted and left a bad name for the good ones who give their time and give a damn.

At the high school All-Star camps, both adidas and Nike bring in speakers to tell kids about the important things in life. They try to guide them to make good choices regarding the people who surround them. Let's hope they listen.