By Kostas Giataganas/ info@eurohoops.net
Maccabi like to shop… American. The Israeli team has had great successes using an American recipe, and they want to return to the highest levels of the EuroLeague with just that kind of recipe.
This is why, in addition to some big signings from the European market, Maccabi wanted to go for the bang from the NBA and did so with the arrival of Tarik Black! The 27-year-old center will be crossing the Atlantic for the first time after a full four-year stint in the magical world.
Eurohoops writes about the journey of the American player, who has already achieved plenty – not just in relation to basketball – and who would like to leave his mark as a role model as well, not just as a basketball player.
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The two colleges and the degrees
Ever since he came in contact with the orange ball, Black showed that he had the potential to go a long way, with double-digit averages in Ridgeway High School in Memphis (15.7 points, 11.8 rebounds), enough to attract the attention of several colleges.
His desire, however, was to stay close to his roots, in Memphis, where the African-American population is over 62% but where the quality of life is not as high for that same population.
This is why he chose the University of Memphis for his college career, where getting a degree was the priority for him, since he was advised – by his mother, among others – to work hard and finish his degree in three years so that he could then go to the NBA without any distractions.
In basketball terms, however, things weren’t always rosy, since the rivalry he had with Memphis’ coach, Josh Pastner, didn’t allow him to follow up on his excellent first two years, a rivalry for which he now takes responsibility since he was, in his words, “young and immature back then.”
Academically, though, he was a champ, as in 2013 he had the highest grades among all his teammates and earned a degree in organizational leadership in three years. Having gotten his degree, Tarik now had the opportunity to continue in a different college for his last year before the NBA Draft, with Kansas winning out against Duke and the player stating that, “I may be leaving Memphis, but my heart will always be here.”
And this was because he always wanted to be close to his people, to help them and give back to the community something of what it gave him.
The… mistake that put him on the right track
Choosing the University of Kansas as the place to continue his studies was not random since he wanted to attend the Business School there, though, he was not able to pass the requisite exams, for which he had only one try and not two as he mistakenly thought.
But, every ending is a new beginning and the young student turned to African-American Studies, where he later got his master’s degree. This subject turned out to be a much better fit for him and made him pay even more attention to the underprivileged social groups in Memphis and to help them not with words but with actions.
Out of the draft but in the NBA
In 2014, Black had registered for the draft, but things didn’t go as planned. While two of his former teammates, Kansas’ stars Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, figured in No1 and No3 respectively, attracting all of the attention, he heard all 60 numbers being announced without ever hearing his own name.
The shock was great, as was the disappointment “since I didn’t hear my name.” That same night, though, his agent noted that it was better he wasn’t selected in the second round either, since now he would have the opportunity to choose whichever team he liked.
Many teams were interested but he signed with the Rockets after gaining their trust. His appearances in the Summer League got him enough points that he was able to be on the roster on the premiere of the regular season.
The fateful debut and the stint with Kobe
On the night of October 28, 2014, the Rockets went up against the Lakers in the Staples Center, with all eyes on Dwight Howard who had just switched sides.
The young ace scored 2 points in 20 minutes of playing time and certainly could not foresee that he’d be moving to LA a few months later – after he was waived by the Rockets – alongside Kobe Bryant. In the Lakers he found space and, as the starting center, had 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in the remainder of the 2014/2015 season, earning a contract for the following season as well.
Equipped with knowledge by the “Black Mamba”
Having the opportunity to be alongside Kobe in his last season as a player was a privilege, with Black knowing full well what he stood to gain. And that wasn’t going to be any memorabilia or pictures with his legendary teammate, but… knowledge.
What he wanted was one-on-one talks off the court so that he could teach him… anything. He needed some kind of conversation, advice, even if it was not directly related to basketball, and The Black Mamba indulged him.
“This one time we were sitting next to each other on the plane and he was talking about his family and how they ask him for money. We spoke about how I was going to succeed with my own family.
We talked about business, investing, and he opened my eyes,” Tarik Black has said in regard to his time with Kobe.
In tandem with his… schooling alongside the Hall of Famer, he worked on his master’s degree. A lot of studying, perseverance and valuable help from the University of Kansas led to him earning his degree, which was big for him.
As he has said, “Normally, something like this should be common for an African-American. I, as opposed to most, got a degree, but it’s not about intelligence, it’s about opportunities. I’ve come across many brilliant minds. I’m not smarter than them. They just need to be given opportunities.”opportunities.”
Το “Tarik Black Foundation”
Wherever he has played – and also now that he’ll be playing several thousands of kilometers away from his birthplace – his mind will always be back home, as will his desire to give back.
This is why he founded the Tarik Black Foundation in Memphis, which became a reality so that he could help the area’s underprivileged kids, with the foundation motto being “Faith, Compassion, Integrity, Respect,” and so that every child can have the opportunities he had to get ahead.
In this way, Black can become the “role model I always wanted to be. If someone can take something away from my own experience, it’s that you should be able to get what you need. There’s no need to copy someone, because everyone’s different, just do it in your own way. Take whatever you want from my experience that you feel connects with you.”
Now, Tarik Black’s future is connected with Maccabi, who want to make the most of the exceptionally athletic and disciplined 27-year-old center’s experience at the highest level, so that they will be able to return as a team to the highest level in the EuroLeague.
Photo credit: Getty Images