Ryan Baum Lied To

The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
June 10, 2003 Tuesday Final Edition
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. D3
BRIAN DOUGLAS

Right choice

Ryan Baum knew he was making a sacrifice when he chose to play in the Maccabiah Games last summer.

Baum, a sharp-shooting guard for Memphis University School, wanted to play in the Olympic-style event that took place in Israel because of the importance it held to him personally.

"It was a great personal experience," Baum said. "All the media in Israel centered on us, and they had a big opening ceremony just like the Olympics. It was a big deal."

But that participation could have been costly. While others were playing in front of potential college coaches, Baum was spending the heart of AAU basketball season overseas. It didn't help that this was the summer before his senior year, probably the most important time to be seen.

"In the year I missed of AAU, I fell off the map," Baum said. "I was told a lot that people had lost track of me. A lot of people said it would hurt me."

In the end, however, it was Baum's participation in those games that helped him land the opportunity he has now. Baum recently decided to play for Lafayette, a small Division 1 school located in Easton, Pa. His connection to the school came from one of his coaches at the Games, who was good friends with the staff at Lafayette and referred it to Baum.

"We're supposed to be the team to beat in our league (Patriot League), so hopefully we'll get a spot in the NCAA Tournament," Baum said. "It'll be an amazing story to tell people that the Maccabiah Games helped me get there."

  @ 1:17 PM