New Life for Florida Shooter

James Life’s name is ironic. He didn’t finish high school like most people do. He never received his diploma from the school administrator. He joined the working world. With the help of Manatee Community College (Fla.) head coach Brac Brady, he’s now enrolled in school and playing college basketball. Some life, huh.

Life, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard, was a big-time scorer at the prep level, averaging nearly 30 points a game but he ran into some troubles and was kicked out of school. He went to work and earned a modest living. But he wanted to get back to the hardwood. Enter Brady.

“I call him my JUCO success story,” Brady said. “We knew about him and kept in touch. I told him that he needed to go and get his GED if he wasn’t going to graduate. So he did that.”

After getting the academic requirements needed to get into Manatee, Life enrolled at the community college in January of 2003 and took two classes. He joined the team in December of the same year.

“It was devastating to be out that long,” Life said. “But I knew I had the talent and the work ethic that something would come around. I just maintained my game and tried to stay in shape.”

With the prestigious IMG basketball academy in the same city, Bradenton, as Manatee, Life would work out during the summer months with a number of NBA players including Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince.

“Ever since, he’s acted like the model citizen,” Brady said. “He’s getting up early, going to class, he’ll stay on campus when he’s over to do homework. James will hit the weights and try to stay productive when most guys go home and go to sleep.”

Life averaged 19.6 points a game last season, after joining the team in mid season. Brady believes Life has a chance to be the top scorer in the state this season.

“James is an outstanding shooter,” Brady said. “He’s got NBA range on his shot but he’s not the super-freak athlete. He is crafty in the sense he can get the ball in the basket and he’s quick with the dribble but when he shoots it, that is his strength.”

After sending tapes to several schools and coaches, interest began to grow at the Division I level.

“I’d probably say Utah is involved the most,” Brady said. Hawaii, Arizona, Creighton, South Carolina, Western Carolina and a number of Division II schools are also involved, Life said. The shooter needs to graduate in order to transfer to Division I, Brady said.

“This is the moment I’ve lived for,” Life said of the upcoming season. “I’m ready for everything that is coming to me.”

Some Life, huh.