Marion makes Goodwill cut

Tim Graham

Tuesday, June 2, 1998 | 11:07 a.m.

Less than a month ago, Shawn Marion was grappling with the decision of where he would play basketball.

The 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward, who led Vincennes (Ind.) University to a fifth-place finish in the national junior-college tournament, chose UNLV over the NBA. But now someone else is in control of Marion's immediate basketball future.

Goodwill Games head coach Clem Haskins announced Monday that Marion is one of 17 players remaining on his roster.

The list of players, which started at 31, was trimmed following three days of workouts in Colorado Springs. The final roster will be pared to 12 after training camp July 6-12 at Minnesota, where Haskins coached the Golden Gophers to an NIT championship this season.

Haskins has seen firsthand the talent Marion used to average 23.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game last season. Marion also shot 60.3 percent from the floor and 74.8 percent from the free-throw line.

"We go on people who can play," Haskins said. "This young man has great upside. I like his future. He's a great player, and he'll be a pro. He's a great three-man."

Marion was the only junior-college player invited to try out.

If he makes the final roster he will join an elite fraternity of amateur players. Of the 38 players who have participated since the first Goodwill Games in 1986, 34 were NBA draft picks, with 18 going in the lottery portion. The group also includes 18 players who saw action in an NCAA Final Four.

The final roster also could stand as the team to compete at the World Championships if an NBA lockout occurs.

"Anybody who doesn't make the team should not be ashamed," Haskins said. "They all are great players, but you gotta make some tough calls."

Haskins, who was an assistant for the 1996 Olympic team, intends to fill out his roster with five guards, five forwards and two centers.

"The most important aspects are team play and the ability to get the ball in the basket," Haskins said. "I want to make sure I surround myself with enough firepower to win the game because those of you who know me know we'll play defense. I want guys who can play both ends of the floor."

The Goodwill Games' tournament runs July 19-24 and features eight countries: the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Lithuania, Puerto Rico and Russia. Puerto Rico won the gold medal in 1994.