When I was a senior in high school, I came to the University to visit a friend of mine for the weekend during winter term. That Saturday, the Oregon Duck basketball team played the Arizona Wildcats with superstar Jerryd Bayless and his sidekick Chase Budinger. Simply put, the game was nothing short of amazing. But of all the highlights that I can remember, there is only one that vividly sticks out in my mind — LeKendric Longmire’s two-handed slam.
The dunk came on a fast break as Longmire soared from the half circle to jam it home. He then proceeded to hang on the rim for two or three seconds after the play pulling his chin toward the rim, resulting in a technical foul and free throws for Bayless. Longmire, a redshirt freshman at the time, recorded only four points the entire game but I knew there was something about him that I liked.
Then when I became a student last fall and was able to see almost every home game at McArthur Court, I began to realize exactly why I enjoyed watching Longmire play. He’s got that edge about him, the very same edge that NBA superstars LeBron James and Kobe Bryant have. Almost as if to say they’re playing with a chip on their shoulder, and they know that they are better than you.
I remember one game last season when Longmire was having a particularly hot shooting night and he began exchanging words with the opposing players. As a sports fan, I love watching this. The constant exchange of remarks between two athletes battling it out is something you don’t get to see in any other walk of life.
As the game progressed, the chirping continued and after another Longmire bucket, he ran back down court and slammed his hands on the court as if to say, “What, you think you’re
going to score now?”
Now let me clarify where it is I’m going with this. I’m not saying Oregon’s LeKendric Longmire is a LeBron-caliber player, but what I’ve seen him bring to the Duck basketball team is invaluable. Every team should have a player who isn’t afraid to talk a little trash. It’s part of the game and it forces your opponent to bring their game to the next level, and I see a lot of that in Longmire.
The way he carries himself on the court and his exuberant personality make him a great player to watch, but they’re also a huge factor in the Ducks’ success. During last weekend’s exhibition game against Concordia, Longmire scored seven points, pulled 10 boards, dished out four assists and had one steal in 16 minutes of playing time. He played with a sense of confidence that was lacking at times last year when he, as well as Joevan Catron, was basically forced into being the go-to guy outside of Tajuan Porter.
But as the 2009-10 season gets underway, I anticipate the official arrival of a far-improved team from last season. One with Longmire at center court slapping the ground, gritting his team on, and welcoming any defensive challenge that comes his way. And while he may not put up 20 points and 10 rebounds every night, providing that extra energy and willingness to make the big play will be something that goes beyond the game of basketball. His athletic skill set combined with his ability to inspire the rowdy McArthur Court Pit Crew will prove to be something this Duck team can rally behind. And as they improve both physically and mentally over the course of the preseason, I would not be surprised to see them in the upper half of the Pac-10 standings come March.
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