Lamont McIntosh

Men's Basketball

'Where Are They Now Wednesday': Lamont McIntosh

Throughout the months of January and February, our weekly 'Where Are They Now Wednesday' features will take a look back at members of the 1991 and 2001 men's basketball teams, as well as 2001 women's basketball team as we celebrate the 30-year and 20-year anniversaries of those teams reaching the NCAA Tournament.

When Charles "Lefty" Driesell came to Georgia State and started to build the Panther program, he mostly did it with transfers and junior college guys. However, there would be a couple of freshmen that would make an immediate impact and the one who maybe made the most impact was Lamont McIntosh. When his four-year career was done, McIntosh would score 1,074 career point, still 17th all-time, while playing in 118 games, which still ranks 10th in program history. He was a part of 83 wins over those four years which still stood as a school record until a few years ago. Now-a-days you can find Lamont teaming up with the Voice of the Panthers Dave Cohen on ESPN+ and radio broadcasts.

Talk a little bit about what you have been up to the last 20 years (work, sports, family) since finishing up your time at Georgia State.
For the first 10 years of that I was fortunate enough to continue my basketball career abroad. From 2004 when I graduated from GSU until 2014. I started out with the British Basketball League in Glasgow, Scotland for the Scottish Rocks. Then I moved to Belgium and after that, three consecutive seasons in Germany's Bundesliga. I went further east and had stops in the Ukraine, Greece, and Poland, before I finished my last two seasons back in Germany. I retired from my professional basketball career in April of 2014 and transitioned into my current profession of being a financial advisor. I was blessed with two wonderful children, Carter, 4, and Cadence, 3, and I have beautiful woman I share life with.

How did your experience at GSU help you get to where you are now?
I think more than anything it helped me learn how to create meaningful relationships. There are still a lot people who've I met at GSU during my student-athlete days that I still have some form of a relationship. For such a large enrollment, there was something intimate about GSU. Those relationships play a major role in my personal and professional success today.

What is one thing you would go back and tell your 2001 self?
I would say "be in the moment." I think back - and there's YouTube footage to prove it - and I thought that season would be replicated for all four of my years at GSU. Although, we had some success, we never quite achieved that level success again as a team. It was a great bunch of guys. Players, coaches, training staff, and other staff. It was a perfect storm and a great ride!

What was so special about that 2001 team?
For me, it was the characters - the guys that made up GSU men's basketball. Starting with "Lefty" of course, but everyone from Travis Williams to our trainer Marvin Trinkaus. The team managers and obviously the players. We really enjoyed each other. We spent time together off the court and competed like champions on the court! It was such a talented team.

Talk a little bit about the trip to Boise, Idaho. As crazy as it sounds, the fans in that town really got behind our team.
The trip to Boise started off as a typical business trip for us. We approached it as "hey, we're supposed to be here!" If I'm totally honest, we felt slighted with our seed after being 28-4 and having some really quality wins on the season. With that said, when we laced them up in that opening round versus Wisconsin, we were ready to go! And you're right, the best thing about the NCAA Tournament, is the excitement from the fans. Being in a neutral environment, you usually get the Cinderella support. That's what makes it special. So, when we were in the game battling, competing at a high level, we could feel the energy shift to support us and I believe that propelled us to victory. And of course, the big shot by Darryl "Coop" Cooper. It was an amazing feeling. Then you have the made for TV matchup of Coach "Lefty" versus his old school: the University of Maryland in the second round. That was a bunch of fun as well. But as you know that Maryland team was loaded, and we couldn't get over the hump. We fought valiantly but came up a bit short. The Terrapins went on to the Final Four that season, and the next season were NCAA champions with that same core team.

You got to play for Naismith Hall of Fame Coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell. Give us your best Coach Driesell story?
Oh wow! There's a bunch to choose from. Honestly, I believe the best story I have about Coach "Lefty" was some years after I graduated from GSU. I have a friend in the US Navy that lives in Virginia Beach and I reached out to Coach to let him know I was in town and that I'd like to stop by to see him and Ms. Joyce. He obliged. So, for those who don't know, Coach is a rabid sports fan. With that said, when I went to his condo in Virginia to visit, apparently a PGA Tour major championship was on. This was the Major where Tiger was mounting a comeback on one leg. So, when I arrive, I ring the doorbell and Coach is shuffling to open it and just shuffled right back to his recliner all the while saying "Come on in, Tiger is coming back!!!" Me and my friend, Roy, came in, sat on his couch for the next 30 minutes in silence while he finished this match. It was pretty amazing because we know Tiger ended up winning the major. But the funniest thing about it, after all that silence, he turns to my buddy and says: "Thank you for your service. Imma take you for a steak dinner." LOL.
 
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