HoopsHype.com Columns

A tragic loss
by Marc Narducci / August 23, 2007

It was a high school game in a college setting offering a professional atmosphere. The particulars included a nearly sold out arena, a live local telecast, plenty of familiar NBA faces and the headliner was the late Eddie Griffin.

Griffin died last week at the age of 25 when his SUV struck a moving freight train in southeast Houston. The cause of his death and manner of death is pending.

Back on the evening of Jan. 2, 2000, Griffin seemed on top of the world when his Roman Catholic team of Philadelphia played nearby Camden, New Jersey during one of the most highly anticipated high school matchups in Philadelphia area history.

The game took place at what was then called the Apollo of Temple (now named the Liacouras Center).

At the time, Griffin was considered the best high school senior in the country. He was paired against Camden’s Dajuan Wagner, who was anointed the top high school junior in the land.

That star power brought out such luminaries as former Philadelphia 76er Allen Iverson, along with then-Milwaukee Bucks coach George Karl, whose team would play the Sixers the next evening in Philadelphia.

Griffin was the star of the evening with 29 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots as Roman easily beat Camden, 72-47.

Wagner, who was playing for the first time that season after missing four games with a broken pinkie in his right shooting hand, scored just eight points on 4 for 23 shooting.

This reporter, who was covering Wagner and Camden that season, will never forget the atmosphere the game generated. Even though it was televised live by Philadelphia’s Comcast SportsNet, this Sunday evening game drew 9,339 fans in an arena that seats 10,206.

The most vivid recollection of that evening was the buzz it created, how everybody wanted to see two high school All-Americans compete against each other before both would soon head for the NBA.

And Griffin was magnificent, shooting 12 for 17 from the field and playing, well, like the No. 1 player in the country.

At the time Griffin was 6-foot-9 and could shoot from the outside, put the ball on the floor and despite his thin frame, more than held his own battling inside. Projecting Griffin as a future NBA star at the time wasn’t far-fetched. In fact, he was labeled by many as a “can’t miss” prospect.

Griffin had been used to the pressures that come with being such a highly ranked scholastic player and seemed to be handling the fame well.

Then again that was only on the surface. He appeared quiet and humble and likeable, often speaking in hushed tones.

After his performance that evening, Griffin said. “I still have a lot of things to work on. I think I've got a lot of things to do.”

Looking back, that evening was one of the biggest highlights of Griffin’s career. In a sports-crazy town such as Philadelphia, Griffin owned the spotlight, ever so briefly.

It also predated a series of transgressions that would follow him for the rest of his troubled life.

Griffin was expelled his senior season for fighting with a teammate at Roman Catholic, shortly after leading his team to its second straight Philadelphia Catholic League title. He also punched a teammate during his one season at Seton Hall.

Griffin left college after one season for the NBA and during his five seasons he encountered, alcohol, drug and legal problems.

He seemingly was turning his life around after being sentenced in March of 2004 to 18 months probation, fined $2,000 and ordered to take anger-management classes following a guilty plea to deadly conduct after being accused of hitting his former girlfriend and shooting at her in his house.

The Wolves signed him that October and he averaged 7.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 2004-2005. During that first season in Minnesota, Griffin received favorable reviews and the Timberwolves were so impressed that they re-signed him to a three-year, $8.1 million contract.

While competing for the Wolves that first season after two rather inconsistent years in Houston, Griffin seemed appreciative of receiving a second chance. He also acknowledged his own shortcomings.

"I definitely have to take each day as it comes," said Griffin in an interview prior to a return to Philadelphia to play against the 76ers. “I'm just working hard every day on the court and life in general. "

The life part was a daily struggle that Griffin never could master, despite the fact that many people reached out to help him.

He played five NBA seasons, averaging 7.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.71 blocked shots in 303 games.

These are just ordinary statistics, especially for somebody who had the talent to be an NBA All-Star.

There is so much he could have achieved. Those who saw Griffin on that night at Temple in 2000 could only envision a bright future. Instead he has left us as a tragic figure who wasn’t able to conquer those inner demons that never seemed to leave him alone.

Marc Narducci covers the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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