Once he was compared to Magic Johnson; his flawless floor game conjured images of the legendary Connie Hawkins. But Lloyd Daniels - high school hoop hero, NBA all-star in waiting - never escaped the city streets where his game first flourished.
Daniels remained in critical but stable condition Friday at Mary Immaculate Hospital after a drug-related shooting a day earlier. Police said the argument outside Daniels' home started over an $8 crack debt.It was the latest episode in a troubled 22-year life which has taken him through five high schools, two rehab centers and, finally, to a Queens intensive care unit with gunshot wounds in his chest and neck.
While his talents helped Daniels receive chance upon chance to straighten out his life, they were ironically the cause of some his problems, said a close friend of the 6-foot-8 Brooklyn native.
"I definitely think certain things were overlooked because of his talent," said Lou D'Almeida, a Bronx basketball fanatic who took Daniels under his wing four years ago. "He wasn't required to make any decisions early on.
"That was the only problem he had - trouble making the right decisions," Almeida said, pausing for a second. "That, and pushing himself in school."
Academics were never Daniels' strong suit. "I ain't allergic to no school. I just don't want to go," he said when dropping out of high school. When he arrived at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in 1987, Daniels could read at a third-grade level.
Time magazine summed up his diploma-less odyssey through five high schools in three states: "Each school had availed itself of his talents on the court but never managed to solve his profound reading problems."
As he got older, Daniels began making the wrong decisions: He was arrested on a drug charge. He reportedly began drinking heavily. His work habits led to his release from two teams within three months last year.
But through the drinking, through the drugging, through the dropping out, Daniels always had one thing to hold on to: his game.
While at Andrew Jackson High School, "Sweet Pea" Daniels averaged 31.2 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10 assists per game - until quitting in February 1986.
In a high school all-star game several months later, Daniels limited Sean Higgins - now a key performer for NCAA champion Michigan - to just 8 points while pouring in 24 himself.
As he was refusing help from a drug rehabilitation program, Daniels was scoring 16 points per game and showing glimpses of his old skills with the Topeka Sizzlers of the Continental Basketball Association. He wore out his welcome there in just 29 games and was cut in February 1988.
While sucking down a case of beer per day, he still averaged 27 points per game in the New Zealand Basketball Federation last year - but his drinking led to release in May 1988.
"He's as gifted a ball-player as I've ever seen," said Jerry Tarkanian, head coach at college basketball powerhouse UNLV. "Without question, he could have been an NBA all-star every year."
Tarkanian compared his overall skills to those of Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson; St. John's University head coach Lou Carnesecca - who's handled such homegrown talent as Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson and Walter Berry - called Daniels one of the greatest players the city had ever produced.
But when Tarkanian took a chance on Daniels at UNLV, the player was arrested while buying cocaine at a Las Vegas crack house. While awaiting sentencing, drug tests showed Daniels continued to use cocaine and marijuana.
At Topeka, Daniels was virtually adopted by the team's owner; NBA superstars such as Jo Jo White and John Lucas were brought in specifically to assist him on and off the court. Drug rumors abounded when he was cut and Daniels fell out of the limelight.
Recently, Daniels was showing signs of making another comeback. He visited the Tarkanian family on Christmas Day and appeared clean, healthy and ready to play ball, the UNLV coach recalled.
"He was cheerful, friendly - so pleasant. He made the whole family feel good," Tarkanian said. "He's very likeable, not at all violent, a very sweet kid."
But the sweet kid may be running out of chances - if he hasn't run out of them already.
"I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. Now he should learn his lesson - what else could be more scary than the possibility of losing his life?" D'Almeida asked. "Hopefully, he'll come through this."