Omar Cook's road to the NBA wasn't supposed to be this long.

Four years ago, he was a McDonald's All-American who honed his skills at New York's famed point guard factory — Rucker Park.

Now he's a 21-year-old journeyman, signed by the Indiana Pacers after two years in the NBA's developmental league and is taking advantage of something few players get — a second chance.

Cook has put his struggles behind him and is shining for the Pacers in the preseason. Coach Rick Carlisle raves about his court savvy and work ethic, which has distinguished him in the race to backup starter Jamaal Tinsley.

"What I like is he's shown the wherewithal to continue to work hard, even though he's had some disappointments up to this point of his career," Carlisle said.

Instead of taking the express route from Rucker, through college, to NBA riches — as did Kenny Anderson, Stephon Marbury and Mark Jackson — Cook has been on the scenic route.

A playground legend on the streets of New York, Cook enrolled at St. John's as a "highly, highly, highly touted recruit," Red Storm coach Mike Jarvis recalled.

Amid intense pressure to succeed, Cook ignored Jarvis's advice and left school after an impressive freshman season.

"I did not feel at that time that he was ready to go," Jarvis said. "He was a young kid who had a lot of people telling him he was going to be a lottery pick and, naturally, he believed them."

Cook slipped to the second round of the 2001 NBA draft, was picked by Orlando and traded to Denver, which then cut him before the season. He was also waived in Dallas in 2001 and was cut last year by Orlando.

Suddenly, the can't-miss kid from Brooklyn found himself in Fayetteville, Ark., playing for the NBDL's Patriots the last two years, without having played an NBA game.

"I decided to take the leap. I felt I was ready," Cook said, unapologetically. "I went for it."

That's when the whispers started about Cook becoming the latest sad story about unrealized potential.

"It was tough for me because I was always better than everybody growing up," Cook said. "To be put in that situation was tough, but I got over it. I'm dealing with it. Hopefully some day I can say, 'Look what I've been through and I got here from it.'"

Cook was nearly flawless in the Pacers' Oct. 8 preseason opener against Chicago, scoring 13 points and grabbing two steals in 19 minutes to help lead the Pacers back from a 12-point deficit.

Even more important, Carlisle said, is his court awareness and take-charge presence.

"There are some guys you know are ready, you sense they know it's their time," Carlisle said. "He just really believes that he's going to be a player in this league."

For once, Cook seems to have a little luck on his side. Of his competitors for the job, veterans Anderson and Anthony Johnson are sidelined with injuries and Jamison Brewer has been ineffective.

The biggest surprise for Carlisle so far has been Cook's improved shooting — one of the main reasons Cook slid in the draft.

He was 4-for-4 from the field, including three 3-pointers, in the opener and nailed a big shot down the stretch in the Pacers' second exhibition game against Boston on Saturday.

The improvement has come from countless hours at Conseco Fieldhouse. Cook came to Indianapolis a month early to work on his game and he hasn't stopped working.

"I always worked hard, but it wasn't as intense," Cook said. "Now I'm working hard every day, putting the effort in out there and doing what I can do."

Jarvis says it's just another step in Cook maturing.

"One of the main things that makes us great can also be one of the things that holds us back, and that's our ego," Jarvis said. "He's a good person who is growing into manhood."

Looking back, Cook says he has no regrets.

"I know if I'd have left later I'd have been a top 15 pick," Cook said. "I think it worked out for the best though because I'm a better player and a better person. If I would've gone in the first round, I probably wouldn't have been as hard a worker."

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+Astronaut returns safely, manned space mission 'complete success' ( 2003-10-15) +Beijing to be more open for SARS information ( 2003-10-16) +Foreign trade becoming balanced ( 2003-10-16) +Foreign investment slows, but prospects bright ( 2003-10-16) +Ten killed in New York ferry crash ( 2003-10-16)		+Man City beat Lokeren 1-0, Anelka scores ( 2003-10-16) +Cook trying to make good on NBA chance ( 2003-10-16) +Liverpool 3-0 Ljubljana: Reds cruise ( 2003-10-16) +Kobe Bryant defense says it has evidence ( 2003-10-16) +UEFA Cup: Barca smash eight ( 2003-10-16)