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Alumnus takes a shot at stardom
It is hard to miss a 6-foot-5-inch man in a red velour warm-up suit, especially when that suit is emblazoned with the Harlem Globetrotters logo. So heads swiveled to get a look at Savannah College of Art and Design alumnus John Lane at Forsyth Park this fall. Lane should be getting used to the looks, as one of the newest members of the Harlem Globetrotters. “I love being a part of the Harlem Globetrotters,” he said during a brief visit to SCAD last month. “It gives me a chance to put smiles on children’s faces. I’m pleased to be a part of a prestigious organization like that. Known as “Lanky” on the team, Lane played on the SCAD men’s basketball team for three years while pursuing a B.F.A. in graphic design. He averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 59 games at SCAD and shot 42 percent from the floor (110-of-262) and 58.3 percent from the free-throw line (98-of-168). Lane also was a member of the 1999-2000 team that made the college’s first appearance in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championships. When he graduated in 2001, Lane continued his basketball career by working out with the New York Stars before signing with the Tampa Bay Thunderdogs. Later, while on the road with the Harlem Road Kings, Lane got the call to join the Globetrotters, along with 12 other newcomers. “This was my ultimate goal,” he said. “It’s the best thing that’s happened to me.” Globetrotter owner and chairman Mannie Jackson is pleased at the line-up. “It’s a nice blend of some very good rookies and veterans together to ensure this is the best year ever,” he said. In addition to building on some of the basketball skills Lane acquired at SCAD, he also is still using the graphic design expertise he gained during his coursework by designing his own basketball clothing line and the marketing tools to go with it from his home base in Newport Beach, Calif. Lane will be part of the Globetrotter’s 2003-2004 North American Tour, which kicks off Dec. 26 in Green Bay, Wis. “It’s going to be pretty cool,” he said. “I love it. I wouldn’t want to be any other place.” For more information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com. |
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