Curry muddles through 'mistake' one day at a time

A jump shot away from Gallagher-Iba, Father Ken Harder is one of the converted. Saint John the Evangelist Church is where Curry completed the court-imposed 200 hours of community service. (He also was sentenced to three years' probation). Curry cheerfully worked over the summer painting rooms and doing odd jobs.

"He's got a wholesomeness which leads me to think whatever happened in North Carolina, that was a fluke," Fr. Harder said. "It's not consistent with his character."

There is a religious aspect to this story that started almost the moment Curry was arrested. For two weeks, his father Leon said, JamesOn couldn't function after he was arrested. Media literally camped out across the street from his home waiting for a sighting.

Curry retreated into his soul where religion and a love of poetry waited. He was inspired to have Psalm 71:20 tattooed on his left bicep:

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.

"He was in no man's land," Moon said. "It wasn't one of those things he could do by himself."

Fifty relatives gathered at Curry's home when Sutton made his recruiting visit. Their presence was as much to check out the coach and his intentions as to support JamesOn.

Moon now shudders to think how Curry would be received had Williams never pulled the scholarship. The comparisons to Jordan would be intact. But so would the twisted minds of the Cameron Crazies.

"It would have been awful for him," Moon said. "I can't imagine him rolling into Duke, North Carolina State or Wake Forest."

With basketball as his currency, Curry needed only a positive attitude to save him.

"One event doesn't condemn you for life," Fr. Harder said. "It means nothing to anyone here. I wonder if over in North Carolina if they think maybe we should give him a second chance?"

Yes? No? Maybe? Before you answer, answer coach Moon's question.

What do you want five years from now?