Marion cut from Goodwill hoops squad

It had started out to be a good day for Shawn Marion. Too bad it wasn't an omen.

The 6-foot-7 forward who is headed for UNLV, had been selected the National Junior College Athletic Association's Male Student-Athlete of the Year Wednesday. But the former Vincennes (Ind.) University star's luck ran out as day turned to night as he was the final player cut by the USA Basketball squad that will represent the red, white and blue in this weekend's Goodwill Games in New York.

Marion and Oklahoma's Ryan Humphrey were the last two players cut from coach Clem Haskins' roster as the team broke camp in Chicago. Marion was battling for a spot where the roster was deepest -- small forward. He was also battling politics as Quincy Lewis, who plays for Haskins at Minnesota, was kept on the team, as expected.

Marion couldn't be reached for comment. But UNLV coach Bill Bayno was obviously disappointed.

"I feel bad for Shawn because I know how hard he worked," Bayno said. "He deserved to be on that team.

"I think it was because he was the only JC kid there, the politics probably worked against him. I watched the team and from what I saw and what I heard, Shawn was outplaying Quincy Lewis. But you can't cut your own guy. I understand that."

Bayno said he had spoken to Marion in Minneapolis last week about the possibility of being disappointed. And while Marion may have been prepared for that eventuality, it still had to hurt being the last player cut.

"I'm sure he's hurting," Bayno said. "But it's still a great accomplishment for Shawn. They were looking for a reason to cut him earlier and they couldn't because he was playing so well.

"He was always around the ball and making things happen. I think he just got caught up in the numbers. There were a lot of guys at his position and only a couple of spots."

Marion was able to compete despite playing on a bruised left foot suffered before the Minneapolis training camp. Bayno said he will leave Chicago a better player.

"I think he has learned a tremendous amount," Bayno said. "Shawn's played against the best college competition in the country and proved he belonged. It's going to help his confidence and he'll be in great shape when he gets here."

Bayno said Marion may elect to remain in Chicago, where he has been working out with several NBA players, including Boston's Antoine Walker and Dallas' Michael Finley.

"He really likes playing in that summer league (in Chicago)," Bayno said. "Maybe he'll just stay there for the next few weeks and he'll come out (to Las Vegas) right before school starts."

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