After practice was all said and done yesterday at The Convo and most of Ohio's players had entered their locker room, one very large man remained on the floor shooting around.

A few minutes later, that man made his way to the locker room, Ohio gear and all, just like he had done so many times in his career at Ohio. Except this time, he made the trip as an NBA player.

Former Ohio basketball star and current NBA forward Gary Trent worked out with Ohio yesterday for the first time since he was drafted into the NBA four years ago. This occurrence will not be a one-time thing either. Trent plans on practicing with the team so he can stay in shape and be prepared for the end of the NBA lockout.

"This is the only chance I've ever really had to come back here," Trent said. "Usually at this time of year, we're getting ready for our first regular season game next week and camp usually starts the first of October. So, I'm using this time so I can get in shape. So, I may be around here a little bit more."

Trent continuously is updated by the NBA players' union as to what is transpiring with the negotiations with the NBA owners. The union sends each NBA player memos, and Trent's agent is involved with the negotiations.

As far as Trent's take on the matter, though, he just wants to play. "It's all about money," he said. "I just hope that both sides can come to some type of agreement where nobody feels like they were cheated or anybody feels like they lost anything, and then we can get the season under way.

"I just want to play ball, but I don't want to be cheated. I don't want no less or no more than what I'm worth. Give me exactly what I'm worth and give every player what they're worth. If they're worth $20 million, give them $20 million. If they're worth the league minimum, then give them the league minimum. Get what your worth. I think the league and the owners are not trying to give us what we're worth."

After spending two full seasons with the Portland Trailblazers, Trent was traded to the Toronto Raptors halfway through last season. Now he's a free-agent, and that's a predicament that can't be worked out until the lockout ends.

"I'm going to go to the team that fits me and can accommodate me the best," he said.

Despite the fact Trent has practiced with Ohio only one day, he already can see a distinctive trait in this team that reminds him of his past teams.

"They play hard," he said. "That's what I've noticed so far. That's something that's always been coach Hunter's trait. And that's something I learned about which raised my level of intensity. I'm at the last level of basketball and it's very intense, and these guys here definitely play hard."

Recruit makes verbal commitment

The 1998-99 season looms large on the horizon for Ohio, but it never stops thinking about the future.

On Monday, some forward thinking paid off as Steve Esterkamp, a senior at LaSalle High School in Cincinnati, made a verbal commitment to attend Ohio next season.

The 6-foot-6-inch forward/guard averaged about 20 points in his junior season along with eight rebounds. He also averaged 33 percent in three-point shooting.

Ohio beat Coastal Carolina for Esterkamp, who has played on a state tournament team every year he has been in high school. He was part of the team that won the state tournament in 1996, and he's been a starter for the past two seasons.

"He's obviously a very good basketball player," said Dan Fleming, LaSalle's coach. "He just seems to get better and better, and he can definitely shoot the ball. He's just simply a good player and a good person. He's also a very knowledgeable player. He really understands the game of basketball. He can fit in nicely at Ohio."

Fleming said Esterkamp will announce his signing with Ohio at a press conference Nov. 11.