Lumberjack Basketball Player Marcus Lever Recounts Dad's Jersey Retirement

Lafayette “Fat” Lever

By Marcus Lever, Northern Arizona Basketball

During his sophomore and junior seasons, he helped his Sun Devil teams post records of 22-7 and 24-4, earning him All-American second-team and All Pac-10 honors. He later led the Devils to one of the biggest upsets in Division I history with a 20-point victory over undefeated and No. 1-ranked ranked Oregon State. These immaculate collegiate achievements’ led to Lafayette “Fat” Lever being drafted 11^th overall in the 1982 NBA Draft. As a fan, admirer, and most importantly his son, it was truly humbling to see my dad’s number 12 jersey being retired by Arizona State University, and proudly descending from the Wells Fargo Area rafters.

Walking into the pre-game retirement ceremony, and seeing so many familiar faces such as Bob Lanier (NBA All-Star), Roland Lavetter (High School Coach), Bike Medder (College Roommate) and many others, let me know how special this night was. With so many people in attendance, from various walks of life all across the country, it made me realize how many lives my dad touched in a positive way. With my mom and all my siblings in attendance, we were there to celebrate him and his accomplishments.

Photo is by Robert Kline.

As my siblings and I sat courtside and watched the clock tick down until halftime, I looked over at my dad and he didn’t seem nervous, anxious or worried. He was proud. There were no other words to describe his mood or emotion. He was simply proud. As my siblings and I walked and stood at center court with my dad, we watched his jersey drop and graciously hang over Ned Wulk Court as hundreds of ASU fan’s chanted “Lever, Lever, Lever”. Thirty years after wearing an ASU uniform, friends, family, teammates, and fans were all in attendance to celebrate him and his accolades.

The older I get and the more I play the game of basketball, the more I appreciate and idolize what my dad has accomplished on and off the court. While growing up, not once, NOT ONCE, did I ever hear or see my dad boast or brag about what he had accomplished. After setting and breaking so many records, in countless different categories’ at the collegiate and NBA level, he continued to stay humble.  That right there, is a true testament of a hero. A legend. And a great father.

Marcus Lever is a junior who played his first two seasons at Cal State Stanislaus. He helped his team to its first ever CCAA playoff appearance as a sophomore, averaging 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds. He was a a 2009 graduate of Desert Vista High School. He is sitting out this season.

Rare Opportunity to See Future NBA Player This Week

In 1982 I saw a young player in the Baltimore Orioles organization play a minor league game against the Tidewater Tides. The next year a Double A star for the Mets came up and hit three home runs in the playoffs for the Tides. Thirty years later, I have fond memories of my early witness to the careers of Hall of Famer Cal Ripkin and MLB All-Star Daryl Strawberry. You can have the same experience Thursday night when the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks play host to Big Sky leading Weber State and their standout junior guard Damian Lillard. It will be a show. 

Lillard has been named one of 11 finalists for the 2012 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award. Earlier this season Lillard was named to the final list of 20 players for the award.  Entering this week’s games, he continues to lead the nation in scoring, averaging 25.5 points per game.  He is also seventh in the nation in three-point field goals made per game and ninth in the country in free throw percentage.  Lillard is fourth in the Big Sky in assists and seventh in steals.  He has scored in double figures in all 20 games for the Wildcats this season and has scored 20 or more 15 times, including a career-high 41 points in a win over San Jose State in December.  Lillard is a finalist for the John Wooden Award.    

He is a future pro that the Big Sky Conference has not seen the likes of since Eastern Washington’s Rodney Stuckey (right) played in the league for two seasons. Stuckey scored 45 points in the Walkup Skydome against the Lumberjacks in 2006 and was named the conference player of the year that season as a freshman. He was selected after his sophomore year by Detroit Pistons in the first round (#15 overall) of 2007 NBA Draft.

Former Lumberjack Cameron Jones had NBA scouts come see him play last season but he did not draw the same attention Lillard has this season. At the NAU game in Ogden last month, San Antonio Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford was in attendance among a host of scouts.

On Thursday the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks will each have reps at the game at the Rolle Activity Center.

While I will always cheer and support the Lumberjacks as the Sports Information Director at NAU (and I hope you do too), I am looking forward to seeing Lillard play again in person this week and follow his career in the NBA.

The Lumberjacks held Lillard to just 18 points in the first matchup in Ogden and he got to the free throw line a season-low two times. But he has the ability to post big numbers in any game. He scored 40 against Portland State last week. 

What will he do this time? Either way, it will be memorable and you should come out to the game.

By Steve Shaff, NAU Media Relations Director

Casino del Sol All-Star Game Recap by Drew Zamora

By Drew Zamora

 

This will unfortunately be my final blog and recap from my time spent at the Casino Del Sol All Star Game.  The game itself had an NFL type speed and execution behind it.  Coming off the field i was very pleased with my performance.  I really got a hold of a couple punts, two touchbacks on kickoffs, and 3/3 on PATs.  My feelings after the game were a mixture of relief, happiness, and a bit of sadness knowing the week was coming to an end.  The bitter sweet emotions came back again, the same emotions I felt after my last NAU game when I had to take off the pads for the last time as Lumberjack.  I am optimistic though that this will not be the last football game of my career and I look forward to suiting up again for another team soon, wherever it may be! 

I was overwhelmed with text messages, calls, and Facebook posts after the game from so many friends and family.  It put a smile on my face and i want to thank everyone who watched and followed me Monday night!  Brian agrees with me that we want to start a tradition of having NAU players represented at this game every year!!

I am so glad to have had the opportunity to go through this experience with Brian.  Getting to hang out and be on the field with him again really made this week one i will always remember.  It seems like just yesterday Brian and I were in our two bedroom apartment in Flagstaff together hanging out, playing FIFA, and  sitting in the living room talking about our football plans and both of our goals in trying to make it further.  He is a great person who works harder then anyone out there! Who knows maybe somewhere down the road I will get to suit up the pads with him again!

The Casino Del Sol All Star game staff did such a great job putting on the event and I am so happy to have got to know everyone involved.  I am back to the grind here in Tempe and even had a workout last night in the weight room!  Thanks to everyone who read the blog and followed me this past week.  I am taking away from this game a lot of memories, experience, and new friends.  Best of luck to my NAU football teammates as they are heading into the off-season.  Work hard boys and put everything you've got into this time you have, leave no regrets, and i expect big things from all of you next fall!  Thank you Steve Shaff for the support throughout my career at NAU, the great articles you wrote, and everything you have done for Brian and I this past week.  I'm officially signing off....ROLL JACKS!!