Beyond Basketball
Manhattan's Kevin Laue
By Walter Villa

Manhattan College men's basketball coach Barry Rohrssen, a native New Yorker with an accent as thick as Joe Paterno's glasses, recalls seeing Yankees lefty Jim Abbott pitch a no-hitter against the Indians in 1993.

"I remember watching in admiration," Rohrssen said of Abbott, who won 87 major-league games despite being born without a right hand. "I am sure that when Jim was growing up, there were people who told him he couldn't make it.

"But somewhere, I am also sure there was a coach who believed in him. I told myself that if one day I had the opportunity to give a kid like Jim a chance, I would do it."

Rohrssen, a former Pitt assistant coach, has that chance now.

In March, he signed Kevin Laue, a 6-foot-11 center from Pleasanton, Calif., who was born with a left arm that ends just above the elbow.

Laue's name rhymes with take a "bow," and he deserves one for beating adversity several times over. He could have picked an easier sport for someone missing a hand-his parents wanted him to play soccer-but Laue fell in love with basketball. Sports Illustrated wrote about him in 2007, during his junior year at Amador Valley High School, when he averaged 4 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks per game. SI called him the "most exciting player in basketball," and President Bush met him and shook his hand.

But Mr. Excitement-who sported a mop of red hair that would have made Bill Walton proud back in the day-had to sidestep another boulder-sized problem in his senior season: He missed the year due to a broken leg.

Still determined to earn a college basketball scholarship, Laue decided to head to Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy, a prep school that would give him the opportunity to play a healthy season and get the attention of scouts.

The plan worked.

Because of his size and leaping ability, Laue started getting recruiting letters from Division III colleges.

Meanwhile, The New York Times published a story about Laue, which caught the attention of Manhattan College President Thomas Scanlon, who e-mailed it to Rohrssen.

"It sounded like I would have (Scanlon's) support, something that may not be easy with other administrations around the country," said Rohrssen, who added that Manhattan Athletic Director Bob Byrnes was also supportive.

Rohrssen called Fletcher Arritt, who has been coaching at Fork Union for 39 years.

"Fletcher is as honest as the day is long, and he told me that Kevin could have played for any team he's ever had because of how hard a worker he is and how a good a person he is," Rohrssen said. "His words really cemented things for me."

Before he signs a player, Rohrssen sees him compete live. But Laue was an exception. Rohrssen watched "tons of tape" on Laue and also relied on recommendations from Arritt and other coaches but never saw him play in person.

"Let's not discount that Kevin is 6-11 and runs the court well," Rohrssen said. "Fletcher said if Kevin had two hands, we would not be having this conversation because he would be headed to the ACC or the Big East."

Rohrssen has not ruled out Laue possibly redshirting this season to acclimate himself to big-time college basketball. But no matter what happens, the coach feels comfortable with his decision, brushing aside any critics who might call this a "wasted scholarship" or a publicity stunt.

"The truth is that most coaches take chances on players," Rohrssen said. "A lot of talented players get chances even when they have bad grades, bad habits and bad attitudes.

"Why can't Kevin-who has done nothing wrong-get a chance? Kevin has made the most of his ability. Why not reward someone who has done everything right?

"Here is a kid who graduates with a 3.6 GPA, travels 3,000 miles to go to a military academy that doesn't allow cell phones and makes you wake up at 5 a.m. each day.

"You want to tell me this kid isn't hungry?"

Laue should fit in well at Manhattan, a private, Catholic college that is bigger than just wins and losses.

After Bobby Gonzalez led the Jaspers to two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT in four years, he bolted to Seton Hall, and Rohrssen was hired away from Pitt.

Rohrssen has not yet made the postseason-finishing 13-17 followed by 12-19 and 16-14-but he has done a lot positive things in terms of selling the program.

One example: Rohrssen's two visits to the Middle East in support of the U.S. troops. He and several other coaches, including DePaul's Jerry Wainwright, took part in a summer goodwill tour called "Operation Hoop Talk." The coaches visited fallen soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. and then flew to Kuwait and Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2009.

"We wanted to let these brave soldiers know how all Americans are proud of them," Rohrssen said. "For me to see these courageous men and women, it was inspirational."

Rohrssen is hoping another inspirational story plays out this season with Laue.

"People are going to see him play or read his story," Rohrssen said of Laue, who plans to major in business. "Maybe someone at the Heinz company or some other business in the great city of Pittsburgh sees his story and offers him an incredible job that he has for the rest of his life."

That's the dream scenario - and it's possible because Rohrssen and the good people at Manhattan gave a deserving young man a chance.