Tiger great touts importance of good influences

Former Pacific basketball star Dell Demps, the general manager of the New Orleans Hornets, speaks at the first Rams Symposium on positive coaching Saturday at St. Mary's Morelli Gym.MICHAEL McCOLLUM/The Record

September 09, 2012 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - New Orleans Hornets general manager Dell Demps didn't become an NBA executive overnight.

He prepared himself to seize the opportunity.

The former three-time All-Big West Conference guard at Pacific shared some of his views on life, coaching and parenting to an audience of about 350 at the Rams Symposium on positive coaching Saturday at St. Mary's High.

Born in Long Beach and raised by caring parents in Hayward, Demps said he analyzed his positives and negatives and worked to become the person he wanted to be.

Demps achieved academically and athletically at Mt. Eden High in Hayward and put himself in a position to accept a scholarship to Pacific. He honed his basketball skills under coach Bob Thomason, graduating in 1992 as the program's second all-time leading scorer.

He played professionally overseas and for three NBA teams in a 10-year career. Demps prepared for life after basketball, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in business at Pacific, and by developing meaningful relationships along the way.

Demps worked in the NBA as an intern, then as a scout, then as a director of player personnel, and since July 2010, the 42-year-old father of three has been one of only 30 people in the world helping call the shots for an NBA franchise as a general manager.

Here is the original post:
Positive presence