Donald Little, 97-02
Played C for the Bearcats01/09/05: Galatasaray of Turkey signed Donald Little.
03/30/04: Dijon (France) signs Donald Little (211 lbs C 78cent, college: Cincinnati) to replace Boniface N'Dong, out with a finger fracture. Little is a defensive athletic center. Little spent four years with the Cincinnati Bearcats, averaging 7,1 pts and 6,8 rbs as a senior in 2001-2002, but because of his lack of discipline and troubles with justice, he failed to join the NBA. In 2002-2003 He played in Turkey with TED Ankara, averaging 16,3 pts, 8,9 rbs and 2,2 blks but his team was relegated at the end of the season. After attending the Southern California Summer Pro League and not being able to join an NBA team this summer, he played in Dynamo Moscow until january, averaging 4,2 pts, 5,4 rbs and 1,4 blks. Little needs to improve his offensive game and become more mature to have a chance to join the NBA this summer. Dijon hopes his attitude in the team will be as good as N'Dong's one." - Euroleague.com
11/25/03: In a game for his Russian Team, Dynamo, Little played 7 minutes and had three rebounds. In his best game so far, he had 13 pts and 10 rebs in 24 mins of PT. He is averaging 6 pts and 6 rebs in his first 7 games. - Mike Ryan
09/27/03: Here is an update from the Spanish based agency 'Kaptan' about the signing of their client Donald Little to a Russian basketball team. (Its written strangely, but I am not making this up)
> Donald little went to Spain and join team of Dynamo Moscow fo pre season camp.... We expect to be sgn in next 2 days. Donald played at Cinncianati Univ. and won conference tournament. Last seaosn he spent in TED Kolejliler and have 15.8 points and 8 reeb per game... Prety good young man and have talent to be one of the best centers in Europe in future <
- Mike Ryan
07/18/03 - Little played with "CMX" in the LA Summer League. His teammates include Lawrence Moten and Sam Mack. In five games he averaged 20 mins, 7.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg. (thanks, Jon B)
06/25/03: "Whether he's drafted or whether he's not drafted because of this (felony conviction), he's going to get invited to their (Orlando Magic) camp," Froncek said. "If he makes it on with a team, (the judge) will stay the sentence until after the season." - CincyPost.com
06/24/03: "Two days before the NBA draft, former University of Cincinnati basketball center Donald Little was sentenced to spend 30 days in jail on an assault charge stemming from his part in an attack on his roommate last year. Little, 25, along with another man who took part in the attack, Portifirio Baldwin, will also spend five years on probation, Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Crush ruled today.
Sentencing Little to jail time shocked the 6-foot-11 native of Augusta, Ga. and his attorney, Theodore Froncek. "We thought there would be straight probation," Froncek said after the hearing.
Little does not have to report to the Hamilton County Justice Center until Friday, the day after the draft. "This will have a huge impact (on the draft)," Froncek said. "The question is, would you draft somebody if you knew he couldn't be available to come right away to camp and work on his game?"
Crush had asked the victim, Justin Hodge, to come to the sentencing, however Hodge did not show up. Hodge initially indicated he did not want to see the men go to jail. However, in a victim's impact statement to the court, Hodge changed his mind and asked for jail time. Baldwin was sentenced to spend 97 days in jail, time he already served after being arrested. And the two men were ordered to pay $3,000 restitution.
Prosecutors say incident began the night of March 29, 2002, after Little and Hodge, then 20, had driven to the bank where Little cashed a $2,500 university check for his room and board. The two men returned to their Fairview Heights apartment, where Little placed the money in his dresser drawer. But when Little went to retrieve the money later, it was gone. He suspected Hodge, who had already gone home to Cleveland for the weekend, took it.
A few days later, Little and several others confronted Hodge when he returned, prosecutors said. Hodge denied taking the money. Little punched his roommate twice, knocking out a permanent bridge in his mouth, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Hodge was then taped to a chair, burned with a heated coat hanger and stabbed in the leg. Hodge was treated a University Hospital and released. Two other men who took part in the attack have never been identified.
In a plea agreement last October, Little admitted to punching Hodge and Baldwin said he kicked the victim. Froncek says Little stopped the attack from becoming even more violent. The money was never found.
Little and Baldwin were initially charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping and felonious assault, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault, a felony of the fourth degree.
Hodge has filed civil suits against the men. Baldwin was served with his suit before Tuesday's hearing. Froncek said attorneys for Hodge indicated they wanted $1 million from Little." – Enquirer.com
06/07/03: "Donald Little came to the NBA pre-draft camp this week with plenty of questions attached to his name. None is more pressing than those centered around his attitude and maturity level. Little's history of legal problems isn't lost on any of the teams evaluating him this week, but they wanted to see if Little had matured after spending a year playing basketball in Turkey. The former University of Cincinnati player averaged 6.0 points and 2.0 blocks over three games here. But he also has a June 24 sentencing date for aggravated assault. "You can see an obvious maturity about him," said Orlando Magic assistant coach Johnny Davis. "He's not in disarray out there. He spent that year overseas, and it seems to have really helped him."
Little, 25, is scheduled to work out with the Magic prior to the June 26 draft. He says he improved his offensive game in Turkey last season to go with the defensive prowess he learned at UC. This week, however, his defense was on display, as Little was the most formidable shot blocker at the camp.
Little didn't get much chance to show off his offensive ability because of the nature of the camp in which every player is trying to show the scouts what he can do. That often results in quick shots by the ballhandler, which Little wasn't in most cases, because he played center.
He played steadily on both ends of the court without making a turnover during the camp. For those who questioned whether Little had improved, he provided evidence that his game is in order. "He's really helped himself here," Davis said. "Defensively, he made you notice him, and people are very aware of him now."
What teams don't want is someone with a lot of baggage. That's where Little's past could become his biggest problem. "Life is full of chances, and sometimes you've got to gamble," Little said. "I was in the wrong place for a time, and I have to grow from it. I'm hoping I can go in the second round." - Enquirer.com
06/03/03: "Former University of Cincinnati basketball player Donald Little was headed to Chicago and the NBA pre-draft camp Tuesday afternoon, saying he has straightened out his life and hopeful that he's on his way to a career in the NBA. "I feel lucky," Little said. "I was kicked off the UC team, but I went overseas for four months and kept on playing."
Little, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound center from Augusta, Ga., was dismissed from the UC basketball program in April 2002 after he was arrested and charged with kidnapping, beating and burning his roommate. He awaits sentencing June 24 - two days before the NBA draft - after pleading guilty in October to a reduced charge of aggravated assault. He faces a maximum of 18 months in jail. Little also faces a civil suit in connection with the incident.
Little, 25, played professionally last season in Turkey, where he averaged 16 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots. "My game changed," Little said. "I had to score more. At UC, I was more of a defensive player. When I went overseas, I had to shoot a lot more. They depended on me to score. If you're an American, you've got to score. They don't like defensive players."
Little says he also has changed off the court. "It's been very stressful," he said of his legal problems. "I went through a lot. I thought I'd give up several times, but I couldn't. I'm trying to make it now. It's harder for me now. It was easier then. I've learned. I just cut back on a lot of things I used to do as far as going out. I watch who I hang around with. (UC coach Bob) Huggins told me all four years at UC, but I learned the hard way."
Little has received this chance to display his ability at the NBA camp thanks to the tenacity of his agent, Daniel Yost, who, along with Little, went to the Portsmouth Invitational in April to let NBA scouts and personnel officials know that Little was eligible for the draft. "We developed a bio and got his Turkey tape out to everybody," Yost said. "We found out who the key members of the committee were for Chicago, and we lobbied those guys. To those guys, he had dropped off the face of the earth. He put up great numbers in Turkey, but they didn't know."
Little has workouts scheduled with the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors after the camp. "Big men are rare this year," Yost said. "He's got a real opportunity. It's going to boil down to how he performs in Chicago. If he does well, there's a good possibility he'll go in the second round. "Let's be honest. Donald's got a lot of raw talent. He's just got to get his head on right."
Little averaged 7.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots for UC in 2001-02. He had been dismissed from the program one other time - in May 2001 - after a series of charges stemming from an incident at Inn The Woods Tavern in Clifton Heights and for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, speeding in a work zone and possession of marijuana.
Eventually, those charges were either reduced or dismissed and Little was reinstated by UC in September 2001. He was placed on behavior probation by the athletic department.
Because of his police record, Little faces two challenges as he attempts to make it to the NBA. First he has to convince a general manager that he's good enough to play on that level, then he has to convince him he can stay out of trouble. "The first question on every scout's mind," Yost said, "is 'Where is his head at?' The first thing I did when I took him on is said, 'Look, your head has to be on right.' He assured me early on. I've seen nothing but progress."
Little wasn't around to watch the Bearcats suffer through a 17-12 record last season, but he knows all about it and blames himself at least partially for the sub-par season. "All I hear is, 'We needed you, we needed you,' " Little said. "I feel bad. If I was there, I would have helped them out a lot." - Enquirer.com
4/16/03: Don was drafted by the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs of the USBL. (Logan has already signed with the 'Dawgs')
3/28/03: "Just over a week after the University of Cincinnati basketball team ended a disappointing season attributed in part to the loss of center Donald Little, Little's former roommate sued him and others for a beating that got Little booted off the team.
Justin Hodge of Oberlin, Ohio, filed suit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court against Little, Porfirio "Diaz" Baldwin and others, saying they beat and burned him in the apartment he shared with Little after Little said $2,500 was missing from his bedroom.
Both Little and Baldwin, who is Little's cousin, pleaded guilty to reduced charges in connection with Hodge's April 1 beating and each faces up to 18 months in prison when they are sentenced June 23.
Little and Baldwin tied Hodge to a chair, hit him with a whiskey bottle and weight bar knocking out a tooth, stabbed him in the leg and neck and burned him with a lit cigarette, according to the suit.
Ted Froncek, Little's attorney, expected the lawsuit, saying Hodge's attorney called him last year demanding $1 million to settle. The lawsuit seeks no specific money compensation. Generally, it asks for Hodge to be compensated for his pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses and lost wages. The 6-foot-11 Little, who graduated last year but had one year of athletic eligibility remaining and was expected to be a vital presence under the basket for a Bearcats team that proved to need it, was kicked off the team and went to Turkey to play professionally. But the war in neighboring Iraq cut into Little's income. "He did play for a Turkish team but the season's been canceled," Froncek said. Hodge's attorney, who couldn't be reached Thursday, told Froncek that Hodge, as a result of the attack, suffers Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome." - Cin Post
3/20/03: "Little is playing professionally in Turkey. He pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault in October, a felony that is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Little told The Post in November that he was working on a deal that would allow him to play overseas to earn money to pay the medical bills that his former roommate accrued from the injuries Little caused." Little is playing professionally in Turkey. He pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault in October, a felony that is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Little told The Post in November that he was working on a deal that would allow him to play overseas to earn money to pay the medical bills that his former roommate accrued from the injuries Little caused." - Cin Post
Feb 03 - Donald is averaging 20+ points per game in the professional league in Turkey.
12/17/02: Sentencing for former University of Cincinnati basketball center Donald Little has been continued until June 24, according to Hamilton County court records. Little, 24, pleaded guilty in October to a reduced charge of aggravated assault for his part in the April attack on his roommate, Justin Hodge. Little has since graduated from the university and is playing basketball for a European team based in Turkey. His attorney, Ted Froncek, said Little hopes to earn money so he can pay restitution to the victim. Hodge agreed to the continuance, an official said." - Enquirer.com
11/19/02: "There is one question that Bob Huggins has been asked repeatedly this preseason. Reporters asked him again on Monday afternoon. And, no, it's not about the condition of his heart. Who's going to be the University of Cincinnati's starting center? It should be so easy for UC's head coach to answer.
Instead, as Huggins was wrapping up another day of practice without a clear-cut starting center early Monday evening at Shoemaker Center, the guy who should be the Bearcats' starting center was just getting his day of basketball started here at Rupp Arena.
Donald Little was warming up for some group of college has-beens called Team Nike, here to provide competition for the University of Kentucky in an exhibition game. Little wanted so badly to be finishing his day on the Shoemaker Center court 80 or so miles up I-75, helping his former teammates and the fiery coach, whom he says has been his calming influence during the past seven months, prepare for Saturday's season opener vs. Tennessee Tech.
As Little sat courtside before the game at Rupp Arena, he started thinking about how much easier life would be — for him and for the UC basketball team from which he was kicked off of in April. "It's my fault," he said of UC's current predicament at center. "I really want to be there. I miss it. — Ahhhhh! It'd be so much fun. And a whole lot easier."
Yeah, it is his fault. Yeah, he should miss it. Yeah, it would be a lot of fun. Yeah, it sure would be a lot easier.
Easy life: Little could be one of the most intimidating shot-blockers in college basketball this season. He could further solidify his position as UC's second-best all-time shot-blocker next to Kenyon Martin. He could be an "All-American," he said. (Well, OK, so that's a longer stretch than his condor-like wingspan.) He could be in position to be in the national spotlight a time or two, lifting UC to victory with a last-second shot in a late-season, ESPN-televised game. (Remember the 17-foot prayer he dropped in to beat Marquette in February?) He could be living in a brand new dormitory room for free. He could be going to graduate school for free.
Hard life (reality): Little could be enjoying his last days of freedom for a while. Little, who pleaded guilty last month to a reduced charge of aggravated assault, faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine when he is sentenced Dec. 16 in a Hamilton County courtroom. Little, 24, admitted Oct. 15 that he punched Justin Hodge, his former UC roommate in a university-area apartment, in the face twice April 1, knocking out one of Hodge's teeth. Hodge, Little contended, took $2,500 in cash that Little had received from UC, which dismissed him from the program in April with a year of eligibility remaining. (He remained in school and got his bachelor's degree in liberal arts in June.)
Little can talk all he wants about the six-figure opportunities he has to play professionally overseas, in Europe and China and Lebanon. About working out with current UC senior standout Leonard Stokes next spring to get ready for the NBA pre-draft camps. About how he thinks his attorney, Ted Froncek, and prosecutors will come up with a deal — perhaps probation, community service and restitution (paying Hodge's hospital bills), Little said — that the judge will agree to.
Optimism: "I'm trying to do something with my life," Little said, "so they're trying to work with me." (Froncek could not be reached for comment.)
Reality: Little could be stepping into the spotlight for the final time tonight, when Team Nike wraps up its eight-game college tour at Georgia Tech — at least for a while.
That spotlight shined so brightly in Rupp. Little, who worked out with the UC team some last month to get ready for Team Nike, was his typical self on the court. He still talks a lot of smack. He still smiles a lot. He still engages the crowd. He still swats shots that make the crowd oooooooh. He still clears rebounds with those ballpoint elbows sticking out. He still fouls all the time (the only player to foul out). He still can't shoot outside of a dunk.
The lanky, 6-foot-11 Georgian drove baseline and dunked, one-handed, over a defender in the first half. Nose-to-nose with 6-9 Marquis Estill underneath the basket at one point in the half, Little slapped the UK center's shot back at him. The type of stuff that none of UC's three, bulky, slow-footed, 6-8 juniors vying to replace Little can do. Of course, all of them — current front-runner Derek Hollman, Rod Flowers and Kareem Johnson — are some of the hardest workers in the UC program. The type of guys who would give up about everything but the chance to play big-time college ball to have Little's athleticism, size and shot-blocking skills.
And they don't give Huggins the runaround in practice like Little used to, either. But Little, at times, enjoyed verbally sparring with Huggins, getting a kick out of seeing Huggins' face get Bearcat red and hearing him unleash a barrage of diatribes unfit to print in this newspaper. He and Huggins have a "love-hate relationship," Little said. Huggins, loyal as he is, has stood by Little throughout these troubled times, said Little, who, like he was at UC, is popular among his Team Nike mates, former Marquette guard Cordell Henry said.
Little, known to be silly in a kid-like way, said he talked to Huggins almost every day this summer. Little tried his best to return his feelings toward Huggins when he suffered the heart attack Sept. 28. Little sent a get-well e-mail. He sent a Hallmark.
It read something like: "Get-well soon. I know you're tough, so everything will be all right."
Little said he would like to extend a best-wishes hand to someone else, too: Hodge. Little said that if he had one thing to say to Hodge, it would be sorry. "I would make up with him," said Little, adding that he made eye contact with Hodge in the courtroom last month. "I don't hate him."
Former UC forward Jamaal Davis, who also plays for Team Nike, saw the charming and kind-hearted side of Little even before the April incident. He continues to see that now. They have roomed together on the tour. Little, for instance, is holding his tongue more toward referees, Davis said. He honestly thinks Little is trying to grow up.
"I think he's understanding more about life," said Davis, who teamed with Little to be UC's starting frontcourt players in 2001-02. "I think Donald's thinking — how tough it's going to be. He has some regrets. "I always tell people if he sticks to one person in his life to listen to, he'll be a lot better person. Mom. Dad. Anybody good. — Donald is two people. You love to see Donald No. 1. You hate to see Donald No. 2. I think Donald No. 2 comes from bad direction, from his own views about certain situations, maybe some of his friends. You're 24 years old. You have to have your own mind." - CincyPost.com
11/5/02: Don is playing for a touring exhibition team sponsored by Nike. They got beat by Duke last night. Jamaal Davis is also on the team.
03/30/04: Dijon (France) signs Donald Little (211 lbs C 78cent, college: Cincinnati) to replace Boniface N'Dong, out with a finger fracture. Little is a defensive athletic center. Little spent four years with the Cincinnati Bearcats, averaging 7,1 pts and 6,8 rbs as a senior in 2001-2002, but because of his lack of discipline and troubles with justice, he failed to join the NBA. In 2002-2003 He played in Turkey with TED Ankara, averaging 16,3 pts, 8,9 rbs and 2,2 blks but his team was relegated at the end of the season. After attending the Southern California Summer Pro League and not being able to join an NBA team this summer, he played in Dynamo Moscow until january, averaging 4,2 pts, 5,4 rbs and 1,4 blks. Little needs to improve his offensive game and become more mature to have a chance to join the NBA this summer. Dijon hopes his attitude in the team will be as good as N'Dong's one." - Euroleague.com
11/25/03: In a game for his Russian Team, Dynamo, Little played 7 minutes and had three rebounds. In his best game so far, he had 13 pts and 10 rebs in 24 mins of PT. He is averaging 6 pts and 6 rebs in his first 7 games. - Mike Ryan
09/27/03: Here is an update from the Spanish based agency 'Kaptan' about the signing of their client Donald Little to a Russian basketball team. (Its written strangely, but I am not making this up)
> Donald little went to Spain and join team of Dynamo Moscow fo pre season camp.... We expect to be sgn in next 2 days. Donald played at Cinncianati Univ. and won conference tournament. Last seaosn he spent in TED Kolejliler and have 15.8 points and 8 reeb per game... Prety good young man and have talent to be one of the best centers in Europe in future <
- Mike Ryan
07/18/03 - Little played with "CMX" in the LA Summer League. His teammates include Lawrence Moten and Sam Mack. In five games he averaged 20 mins, 7.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg. (thanks, Jon B)
06/25/03: "Whether he's drafted or whether he's not drafted because of this (felony conviction), he's going to get invited to their (Orlando Magic) camp," Froncek said. "If he makes it on with a team, (the judge) will stay the sentence until after the season." - CincyPost.com
06/24/03: "Two days before the NBA draft, former University of Cincinnati basketball center Donald Little was sentenced to spend 30 days in jail on an assault charge stemming from his part in an attack on his roommate last year. Little, 25, along with another man who took part in the attack, Portifirio Baldwin, will also spend five years on probation, Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Crush ruled today.
Sentencing Little to jail time shocked the 6-foot-11 native of Augusta, Ga. and his attorney, Theodore Froncek. "We thought there would be straight probation," Froncek said after the hearing.
Little does not have to report to the Hamilton County Justice Center until Friday, the day after the draft. "This will have a huge impact (on the draft)," Froncek said. "The question is, would you draft somebody if you knew he couldn't be available to come right away to camp and work on his game?"
Crush had asked the victim, Justin Hodge, to come to the sentencing, however Hodge did not show up. Hodge initially indicated he did not want to see the men go to jail. However, in a victim's impact statement to the court, Hodge changed his mind and asked for jail time. Baldwin was sentenced to spend 97 days in jail, time he already served after being arrested. And the two men were ordered to pay $3,000 restitution.
Prosecutors say incident began the night of March 29, 2002, after Little and Hodge, then 20, had driven to the bank where Little cashed a $2,500 university check for his room and board. The two men returned to their Fairview Heights apartment, where Little placed the money in his dresser drawer. But when Little went to retrieve the money later, it was gone. He suspected Hodge, who had already gone home to Cleveland for the weekend, took it.
A few days later, Little and several others confronted Hodge when he returned, prosecutors said. Hodge denied taking the money. Little punched his roommate twice, knocking out a permanent bridge in his mouth, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Hodge was then taped to a chair, burned with a heated coat hanger and stabbed in the leg. Hodge was treated a University Hospital and released. Two other men who took part in the attack have never been identified.
In a plea agreement last October, Little admitted to punching Hodge and Baldwin said he kicked the victim. Froncek says Little stopped the attack from becoming even more violent. The money was never found.
Little and Baldwin were initially charged with aggravated assault, kidnapping and felonious assault, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated assault, a felony of the fourth degree.
Hodge has filed civil suits against the men. Baldwin was served with his suit before Tuesday's hearing. Froncek said attorneys for Hodge indicated they wanted $1 million from Little." – Enquirer.com
06/07/03: "Donald Little came to the NBA pre-draft camp this week with plenty of questions attached to his name. None is more pressing than those centered around his attitude and maturity level. Little's history of legal problems isn't lost on any of the teams evaluating him this week, but they wanted to see if Little had matured after spending a year playing basketball in Turkey. The former University of Cincinnati player averaged 6.0 points and 2.0 blocks over three games here. But he also has a June 24 sentencing date for aggravated assault. "You can see an obvious maturity about him," said Orlando Magic assistant coach Johnny Davis. "He's not in disarray out there. He spent that year overseas, and it seems to have really helped him."
Little, 25, is scheduled to work out with the Magic prior to the June 26 draft. He says he improved his offensive game in Turkey last season to go with the defensive prowess he learned at UC. This week, however, his defense was on display, as Little was the most formidable shot blocker at the camp.
Little didn't get much chance to show off his offensive ability because of the nature of the camp in which every player is trying to show the scouts what he can do. That often results in quick shots by the ballhandler, which Little wasn't in most cases, because he played center.
He played steadily on both ends of the court without making a turnover during the camp. For those who questioned whether Little had improved, he provided evidence that his game is in order. "He's really helped himself here," Davis said. "Defensively, he made you notice him, and people are very aware of him now."
What teams don't want is someone with a lot of baggage. That's where Little's past could become his biggest problem. "Life is full of chances, and sometimes you've got to gamble," Little said. "I was in the wrong place for a time, and I have to grow from it. I'm hoping I can go in the second round." - Enquirer.com
06/03/03: "Former University of Cincinnati basketball player Donald Little was headed to Chicago and the NBA pre-draft camp Tuesday afternoon, saying he has straightened out his life and hopeful that he's on his way to a career in the NBA. "I feel lucky," Little said. "I was kicked off the UC team, but I went overseas for four months and kept on playing."
Little, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound center from Augusta, Ga., was dismissed from the UC basketball program in April 2002 after he was arrested and charged with kidnapping, beating and burning his roommate. He awaits sentencing June 24 - two days before the NBA draft - after pleading guilty in October to a reduced charge of aggravated assault. He faces a maximum of 18 months in jail. Little also faces a civil suit in connection with the incident.
Little, 25, played professionally last season in Turkey, where he averaged 16 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots. "My game changed," Little said. "I had to score more. At UC, I was more of a defensive player. When I went overseas, I had to shoot a lot more. They depended on me to score. If you're an American, you've got to score. They don't like defensive players."
Little says he also has changed off the court. "It's been very stressful," he said of his legal problems. "I went through a lot. I thought I'd give up several times, but I couldn't. I'm trying to make it now. It's harder for me now. It was easier then. I've learned. I just cut back on a lot of things I used to do as far as going out. I watch who I hang around with. (UC coach Bob) Huggins told me all four years at UC, but I learned the hard way."
Little has received this chance to display his ability at the NBA camp thanks to the tenacity of his agent, Daniel Yost, who, along with Little, went to the Portsmouth Invitational in April to let NBA scouts and personnel officials know that Little was eligible for the draft. "We developed a bio and got his Turkey tape out to everybody," Yost said. "We found out who the key members of the committee were for Chicago, and we lobbied those guys. To those guys, he had dropped off the face of the earth. He put up great numbers in Turkey, but they didn't know."
Little has workouts scheduled with the Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors after the camp. "Big men are rare this year," Yost said. "He's got a real opportunity. It's going to boil down to how he performs in Chicago. If he does well, there's a good possibility he'll go in the second round. "Let's be honest. Donald's got a lot of raw talent. He's just got to get his head on right."
Little averaged 7.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots for UC in 2001-02. He had been dismissed from the program one other time - in May 2001 - after a series of charges stemming from an incident at Inn The Woods Tavern in Clifton Heights and for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, speeding in a work zone and possession of marijuana.
Eventually, those charges were either reduced or dismissed and Little was reinstated by UC in September 2001. He was placed on behavior probation by the athletic department.
Because of his police record, Little faces two challenges as he attempts to make it to the NBA. First he has to convince a general manager that he's good enough to play on that level, then he has to convince him he can stay out of trouble. "The first question on every scout's mind," Yost said, "is 'Where is his head at?' The first thing I did when I took him on is said, 'Look, your head has to be on right.' He assured me early on. I've seen nothing but progress."
Little wasn't around to watch the Bearcats suffer through a 17-12 record last season, but he knows all about it and blames himself at least partially for the sub-par season. "All I hear is, 'We needed you, we needed you,' " Little said. "I feel bad. If I was there, I would have helped them out a lot." - Enquirer.com
4/16/03: Don was drafted by the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs of the USBL. (Logan has already signed with the 'Dawgs')
3/28/03: "Just over a week after the University of Cincinnati basketball team ended a disappointing season attributed in part to the loss of center Donald Little, Little's former roommate sued him and others for a beating that got Little booted off the team.
Justin Hodge of Oberlin, Ohio, filed suit in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court against Little, Porfirio "Diaz" Baldwin and others, saying they beat and burned him in the apartment he shared with Little after Little said $2,500 was missing from his bedroom.
Both Little and Baldwin, who is Little's cousin, pleaded guilty to reduced charges in connection with Hodge's April 1 beating and each faces up to 18 months in prison when they are sentenced June 23.
Little and Baldwin tied Hodge to a chair, hit him with a whiskey bottle and weight bar knocking out a tooth, stabbed him in the leg and neck and burned him with a lit cigarette, according to the suit.
Ted Froncek, Little's attorney, expected the lawsuit, saying Hodge's attorney called him last year demanding $1 million to settle. The lawsuit seeks no specific money compensation. Generally, it asks for Hodge to be compensated for his pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses and lost wages. The 6-foot-11 Little, who graduated last year but had one year of athletic eligibility remaining and was expected to be a vital presence under the basket for a Bearcats team that proved to need it, was kicked off the team and went to Turkey to play professionally. But the war in neighboring Iraq cut into Little's income. "He did play for a Turkish team but the season's been canceled," Froncek said. Hodge's attorney, who couldn't be reached Thursday, told Froncek that Hodge, as a result of the attack, suffers Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome." - Cin Post
3/20/03: "Little is playing professionally in Turkey. He pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault in October, a felony that is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Little told The Post in November that he was working on a deal that would allow him to play overseas to earn money to pay the medical bills that his former roommate accrued from the injuries Little caused." Little is playing professionally in Turkey. He pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault in October, a felony that is punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Little told The Post in November that he was working on a deal that would allow him to play overseas to earn money to pay the medical bills that his former roommate accrued from the injuries Little caused." - Cin Post
Feb 03 - Donald is averaging 20+ points per game in the professional league in Turkey.
12/17/02: Sentencing for former University of Cincinnati basketball center Donald Little has been continued until June 24, according to Hamilton County court records. Little, 24, pleaded guilty in October to a reduced charge of aggravated assault for his part in the April attack on his roommate, Justin Hodge. Little has since graduated from the university and is playing basketball for a European team based in Turkey. His attorney, Ted Froncek, said Little hopes to earn money so he can pay restitution to the victim. Hodge agreed to the continuance, an official said." - Enquirer.com
11/19/02: "There is one question that Bob Huggins has been asked repeatedly this preseason. Reporters asked him again on Monday afternoon. And, no, it's not about the condition of his heart. Who's going to be the University of Cincinnati's starting center? It should be so easy for UC's head coach to answer.
Instead, as Huggins was wrapping up another day of practice without a clear-cut starting center early Monday evening at Shoemaker Center, the guy who should be the Bearcats' starting center was just getting his day of basketball started here at Rupp Arena.
Donald Little was warming up for some group of college has-beens called Team Nike, here to provide competition for the University of Kentucky in an exhibition game. Little wanted so badly to be finishing his day on the Shoemaker Center court 80 or so miles up I-75, helping his former teammates and the fiery coach, whom he says has been his calming influence during the past seven months, prepare for Saturday's season opener vs. Tennessee Tech.
As Little sat courtside before the game at Rupp Arena, he started thinking about how much easier life would be — for him and for the UC basketball team from which he was kicked off of in April. "It's my fault," he said of UC's current predicament at center. "I really want to be there. I miss it. — Ahhhhh! It'd be so much fun. And a whole lot easier."
Yeah, it is his fault. Yeah, he should miss it. Yeah, it would be a lot of fun. Yeah, it sure would be a lot easier.
Easy life: Little could be one of the most intimidating shot-blockers in college basketball this season. He could further solidify his position as UC's second-best all-time shot-blocker next to Kenyon Martin. He could be an "All-American," he said. (Well, OK, so that's a longer stretch than his condor-like wingspan.) He could be in position to be in the national spotlight a time or two, lifting UC to victory with a last-second shot in a late-season, ESPN-televised game. (Remember the 17-foot prayer he dropped in to beat Marquette in February?) He could be living in a brand new dormitory room for free. He could be going to graduate school for free.
Hard life (reality): Little could be enjoying his last days of freedom for a while. Little, who pleaded guilty last month to a reduced charge of aggravated assault, faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine when he is sentenced Dec. 16 in a Hamilton County courtroom. Little, 24, admitted Oct. 15 that he punched Justin Hodge, his former UC roommate in a university-area apartment, in the face twice April 1, knocking out one of Hodge's teeth. Hodge, Little contended, took $2,500 in cash that Little had received from UC, which dismissed him from the program in April with a year of eligibility remaining. (He remained in school and got his bachelor's degree in liberal arts in June.)
Little can talk all he wants about the six-figure opportunities he has to play professionally overseas, in Europe and China and Lebanon. About working out with current UC senior standout Leonard Stokes next spring to get ready for the NBA pre-draft camps. About how he thinks his attorney, Ted Froncek, and prosecutors will come up with a deal — perhaps probation, community service and restitution (paying Hodge's hospital bills), Little said — that the judge will agree to.
Optimism: "I'm trying to do something with my life," Little said, "so they're trying to work with me." (Froncek could not be reached for comment.)
Reality: Little could be stepping into the spotlight for the final time tonight, when Team Nike wraps up its eight-game college tour at Georgia Tech — at least for a while.
That spotlight shined so brightly in Rupp. Little, who worked out with the UC team some last month to get ready for Team Nike, was his typical self on the court. He still talks a lot of smack. He still smiles a lot. He still engages the crowd. He still swats shots that make the crowd oooooooh. He still clears rebounds with those ballpoint elbows sticking out. He still fouls all the time (the only player to foul out). He still can't shoot outside of a dunk.
The lanky, 6-foot-11 Georgian drove baseline and dunked, one-handed, over a defender in the first half. Nose-to-nose with 6-9 Marquis Estill underneath the basket at one point in the half, Little slapped the UK center's shot back at him. The type of stuff that none of UC's three, bulky, slow-footed, 6-8 juniors vying to replace Little can do. Of course, all of them — current front-runner Derek Hollman, Rod Flowers and Kareem Johnson — are some of the hardest workers in the UC program. The type of guys who would give up about everything but the chance to play big-time college ball to have Little's athleticism, size and shot-blocking skills.
And they don't give Huggins the runaround in practice like Little used to, either. But Little, at times, enjoyed verbally sparring with Huggins, getting a kick out of seeing Huggins' face get Bearcat red and hearing him unleash a barrage of diatribes unfit to print in this newspaper. He and Huggins have a "love-hate relationship," Little said. Huggins, loyal as he is, has stood by Little throughout these troubled times, said Little, who, like he was at UC, is popular among his Team Nike mates, former Marquette guard Cordell Henry said.
Little, known to be silly in a kid-like way, said he talked to Huggins almost every day this summer. Little tried his best to return his feelings toward Huggins when he suffered the heart attack Sept. 28. Little sent a get-well e-mail. He sent a Hallmark.
It read something like: "Get-well soon. I know you're tough, so everything will be all right."
Little said he would like to extend a best-wishes hand to someone else, too: Hodge. Little said that if he had one thing to say to Hodge, it would be sorry. "I would make up with him," said Little, adding that he made eye contact with Hodge in the courtroom last month. "I don't hate him."
Former UC forward Jamaal Davis, who also plays for Team Nike, saw the charming and kind-hearted side of Little even before the April incident. He continues to see that now. They have roomed together on the tour. Little, for instance, is holding his tongue more toward referees, Davis said. He honestly thinks Little is trying to grow up.
"I think he's understanding more about life," said Davis, who teamed with Little to be UC's starting frontcourt players in 2001-02. "I think Donald's thinking — how tough it's going to be. He has some regrets. "I always tell people if he sticks to one person in his life to listen to, he'll be a lot better person. Mom. Dad. Anybody good. — Donald is two people. You love to see Donald No. 1. You hate to see Donald No. 2. I think Donald No. 2 comes from bad direction, from his own views about certain situations, maybe some of his friends. You're 24 years old. You have to have your own mind." - CincyPost.com
11/5/02: Don is playing for a touring exhibition team sponsored by Nike. They got beat by Duke last night. Jamaal Davis is also on the team.
