Howie Kussoy

Howie Kussoy

College Basketball

After rough childhood, Laury thriving at Iona

David Laury’s first season at Iona was even better than he envisioned. He finally was playing Division I basketball, averaging a double-double and going to the NCAA Tournament.

But he was never quite comfortable.

Because of eligibility issues, the transfer sat for most of the 2012-13 season’s first two months. Before that, he couldn’t practice with the team and be anywhere coaches were present. So, he just worked out by himself — until Dec. 20 at La Salle.

“It was like being fed to the wolves basically,” Laury said.

His delayed debut was the result of a troubled childhood and an unimaginable odyssey, in which he moved more than 20 times, making stops in six different states, while living with various family members and friends.

The New Jersey native was constantly leaving friends and towns he loved behind — moving to places such as Ohio and Virginia — constantly dealing with financial problems, living in cramped spaces with several people, sometimes without heat, sometimes without knowing where his next meal would come from.

“It was rough as a kid, all the trials and tribulations I had to face,” Laury said without a hint of feeling sorry for himself. “Stuff people go through, but not a lot of people go through. Just things out of my control.”

After attending three different high schools, a lifelong struggle was exacerbated by bad advice and poor academics, landing Laury at two prep schools and five colleges (two junior colleges), with stops in Kentucky, Kansas and Texas.

Now, in his first full season at Iona, Laury finally feels a sense of control.

At 6-foot-9, the 23-year-old is a supremely gifted player who can play point or power forward, changing the game from the perimeter or the paint. The junior put up 19 points and 10 rebounds in the season-opening loss at Cleveland State, but despite all the talent, or perhaps partially because of it, Laury’s work ethic isn’t where anyone wants it to be.

He recognizes it. He makes no excuses. Teammate Sean Armand gets on him about it every day, but coach Tim Cluess said, “without a doubt,” it’s a result of years of instability.

“Honestly, I think he’s functioning at 25 percent of his potential,” Cluess added. “I don’t know if he’ll ever get to 75, 80, 90 [percent]. That would take a tremendous amount of work, but there’s so much room for growth with him.”

After admittedly not listening to his coach’s conditioning instructions last season, Laury said he lost 10-15 pounds in the offseason and has improved his training. A proud Cluess said he has seen a kid who was first overwhelmed by college assignments now succeeding in class, seeking out tutors instead of shirking his responsibilities.

Though Laury is the key piece to the Gaels’ hopes for a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, Cluess seems more concerned with what will happen after next season.

“That’s why I get probably the way I get with Dave because if he doesn’t change, I know what his life’s going to turn out to be,” Cluess said. “That’s why I don’t stop pushing and don’t give up on him. I want him to have a life beyond basketball. He’s taken some really good steps since he’s gotten here, but unfortunately for him, adulthood is right around the corner. If you don’t have that solid foundation, it’s going to be a struggle.

“I think he’s maturing and I’d like to speed it up, but the reality is when he’s had a whole lifetime without that, you’re not going to change that in six months to a year. It’s going to take time, some work and him seeing some success from the hard work. We knew this coming in this was going to be a long-term project with him and that’s why we’re so happy to have him for the 2½ years that we’ll have him, just to give him that chance to really change his life, on and off the court.”

Two weeks ago, Cluess shared a similar thought at a midtown Manhattan restaurant.

“I’ve seen improvement in his game from last year, but I just think with a kid like him, he has a chance to be [Cluess raised his hand above his 6-foot-6 head] here. He should be killing it every day,” Cluess said. “What I’m saying, I say to him all the time.”

The coach looked across the table, “Dave, right?”

Laury, not part of the conversation, was seated, eating lunch. He lifted his head and smiled.

“I’m not saying anything different to you. Correct?” Cluess asked.

Laury confirmed that.

“He knows,” Cluess said.

With the first real stability in his life — and the chance to spend nearly three years in the same place — it could make all the difference.

It already means everything.

“It helps a lot not having to worry about certain things or what’s your next move,” Laury said. “I’m finally comfortable somewhere. It just feels great.”