Shamar Herron has the Attitude to Go Anywhere – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/16/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 16, 1998
By Alison Rasmus
It seems at times athletes are surrounded with negative publicity. The U.S. society is obsessed with sports. Sports fans are crazed by the lives of athletes. They place these ‘normal’ people under a microscope. Many attempt to become involved in every aspect of their life, and will do anything to find out the ‘dirt’, but sophomore Shamar Herron shatters the negative stereotype.
Herron, a 6-9 sophomore center came to Ohio State from Detroit, Mich. He is a down to earth college student who keeps his life in perspective and dispels the stereotype of college athletes. “I don’t throw my pants up in the air and jump into them, I put them on one leg at a time just like the next man,” Herron said.
He is positive about life, academics, and basketball, and his approach to life is to be a balanced man. Looking back to his childhood, Herron remembers when school was not his focus. He knew without an emphasis on school he would not play basketball. Now, Herron follows a simple life philosophy.
“Life is like a chair,” Herron said. “A chair has four legs. The four legs represent academics, sports, religion, and social. If you do any one of these more than the other your chair will be off balance and, therefore, your life will be too.”
Herron gives his mother Georgetta Potts al the credit for getting him where he is today.
“My mother sacrificed so much for my sister and me,” Herron said. “I try to do all the positive things in life that I can so it will shine on my mother. I give all the credit to her because she is the one who taught me about life. She was both a mother and father figure to me.
Potts tried to instill a sense of perspective in her son. “Education is just a must,” Potts said. “We never took education out his program. Education is first then basketball.”
Herron graduated from Pershing High School in the Top 10 percent of his class, and has chosen to major in family development and child studies. One day he would like to teach elementary school.
“I am a kids fanatic and I love children,” Herron said. ” I know they are the future of our world. When I grow old I am going to need someone to take care of me. I want to help shape and mold their minds.”
Potts finds the idea of her son as the head of class an interesting one. “Can you just imagine my Shamar as a teacher,” Potts said. “That will be something to see, all the kids and parents will call him the giant.”
Herron has a few years to prepare for a career in education. For the time being he is focusing on his basketball responsibilities. Herron like to create individual bonds with his teammates and provide comic relief and a hard work ethic to the team. He uses comedy to keep the spirits high and break the monotony. He knows doing all the right things, working hard and staying focused will lead to playing time.
In his second year, Herron likes the way things are progressing. “I think my confidence level has gone up,” Herron said. “I have worked hard in the weight room. I know I did all the things I had to do to prepare myself for this year. There are no set backs, the only person who can stop me is me. Now it is just a matter of getting it done and working as hard as possible and doing all the right things.”
So far this season, Herron had nine points, 10 rebounds, and is 1 for 2 from the free throw line. Herron is is averaging 8.3 minutes a game.
Herron knows the balance he need in life to be successful. His positive attitude is contagious. That attitude allows him to stand out and be effective in whatever he does.
