St. John’s guard Willie Shaw had been searching for the proper words and right time. Ever since he was suspended for last year’s NCAA Tournament game and subsequently, the upcoming first three games of this year, Shaw wanted to acknowledge he erred, and move on.
Yesterday the junior from The Bronx found the words and the gumption to say them.
“I think about how much I almost lost because of one mistake,” said Shaw. “Even if I never play pro ball, say I mess up my leg or something, I can still get a degree from St. John’s, get a good job and make good money. I almost lost all of that and I’m never going to put myself in that position again.”
As reported exclusively in The Post, Shaw was suspended for testing positive for marijuana in March, several days before the NCAA Tournament. Citing privacy laws and university policy, St. John’s never divulged the reason for Shaw’s suspension.
After practice yesterday morning, Shaw told The Post that he will never again smoke marijuana. He still finds it hard to believe that he didn’t think about getting caught when the entire team was tested.
It wasn’t until St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis called his swingman into his office and told him of the positive test that Shaw saw his future flash before his eyes.
“Damn, I’m hurt,” Shaw said he remembered thinking. “I’m hurt for myself and I’m hurt because I let a lot of people down. But with the support I had from the staff, my family and friends, I put that behind me and I’m looking forward to having the best college years of my life.”
Shaw said he was angry over published reports that stated his suspension was the result of a heated argument with Jarvis. Later in the day Shaw held a conference call with reporters to clear the air.
“People make rumors without even knowing what happened,” Shaw said after practice. “Now I don’t have to talk about this anymore.”
Shaw did have one thought to add. He said he intended to speak to high school and junior high school students about staying away from drugs. Then Shaw grabbed a basketball and said he wanted to go and shoot.
“I’m in the best shape of my life,” said Shaw, who will return to action Dec. 11 against St. Francis. “I worked the hardest I’ve ever worked this summer. I’m the strongest I’ve ever been. Some people learn from their mistakes; some don’t. I’m going to prove I did.”
