17. Rhode Island

On June 17, Rhode Island held a press conference to announce that 6'10" sophomore forward Lamar Odom was going to be admitted as a full-time student at the end of the summer. In most cases such news would barely warrant a press release, but the announcement of the impending eligibility of the highly touted Odom was deemed so important—coming as it did just 24 hours after the school announced plans to build a $50 million arena—that the state's governor, Lincoln Almond, was in attendance.

Later that day Rams coach Jim Harrick called Odom and senior forward Antonio Reynolds-Dean into his office and asked Reynolds-Dean to serve as Odom's mentor this season. It was a wise move on Harrick's part, given Odom's academic troubles, which made him ineligible last season. The two players have since grown tight. But Odom doesn't need anyone to tell him that big brother will be watching. "It seems like I've been talked about in Rhode Island more than some pros," he says. "Sometimes people build you up to be something you're not ready to live up to."

Odom is ready. In his debut, an 87-85 victory over TCU, he was one assist shy of a triple double, hit the game-winning shot and flashed a range of skills that could make him the top pick in the 1999 NBA draft. His arrival will help fill the talent void left by the departure of the Rams' two best players, guards Tyson Wheeler and Cuttino Mobley, who last season led the team to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. While Odom will start on a front line of Reynolds-Dean and 6'9" junior Luther Clay, who came on strong after battling through ankle and foot injuries during the regular season, he'll be playing power forward, small forward and, on occasion, the point. "It's a huge amount of pressure," Odom says. "But I think I've matured a lot."

Last December, Odom's college career appeared to be in jeopardy when, as a nonmatriculating student, he abruptly left school for 12 days during final exams. The road back hasn't been easy, but he appears to be on the right path. "I've had to go through some rough times, but I'm here now," he says. "It's just time to play."

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