By Ryan Ernst
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Northern Kentucky University basketball coach Ken Shields sat in front of his team after Wednesday's practice, prepping it for tonight's season opener against Findlay.

"Remember, technical fouls count as personal fouls," Shields said as his eyes panned his players. His glare then settled on one player. "So don't lose your cool, Chris, all right?"

The object of the coach's advice was Chris Seabrooks, a 6-foot-10 transfer from Pittsburgh. He's a player of whom Shields says "as far as raw skill, he's probably a good a big man as we've ever had, and we've had some good ones."

Seabrooks stands out. He towers above most of his Norse teammates. And at 250 pounds - them muscle - he is even more imposing.

In the past, Seabrooks also has stood out off the floor. But there is a difference between standing out and being outstanding.

There was a pair of arrests at Pitt, ultimately leading to his dismissal from the team. And there were poor grades, causing him to sit out a season after transferring to Division II NKU. In April, he was arrested again, this time in Cincinnati, for misdemeanor menacing following the arrest of his best friend, former University of Cincinnati center Donald Little.

And yet Shields took a chance on Seabrooks after seeing him play in the Deveroes Summer League at Oak Hills High School - a chance Seabrooks knows is his last.

"It's my last year of eligibility," he said. "It is now or never."

While at Pitt, Seabrooks showed flashes of great ability. As a sophomore, he averaged 10.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, while playing in the competitive Big East Conference.

"On the court, that's what made me the player I am now," Seabrooks said of his seasons at Pitt. "I think I'm a pretty intelligent player."

But off the court?

"I learned to watch the people I hang around," he said. "But I can't blame all my problems on other people. I'm not saying everything I've done was brought upon me. I brought a lot of that upon myself."

After being kicked off the team in December of his junior year, Seabrooks spent the rest of the school year staying with different family members and Little before enrolling at South Carolina State.

Seabrooks wasn't happy at the school, however, and came to play for the Norse.

But before hitting the court, Seabrooks had to hit the books. To become eligible, he had to complete 24 hours of class and earn a 2.0 grade-point average or better.

"All he could do was participate in open gyms," Shields said. "He couldn't work out or anything like that, so he missed a lot. He was in such a state of ambiguity, as to whether he would or wouldn't play. But once he found he was set to play, his whole disposition turned positive."

NKU director of athletics Jane Meier said she had no reservations about the move.

"I trust the coaches to do their homework," she said. "I have the utmost faith in coach Shields and how he handles his players."

Now, with off-the-court troubles and eligibility requirements behind him, Seabrooks said he's ready to take the floor when it means something. Tonight will be Seabrooks' first regular-season game in 23 months.

"I think I'm coming along pretty good," he said. "My endurance and stamina is starting to come back. So hopefully come Friday, I'll be able to do the things I did at Pitt."

On the court, that is.

E-mail: rernst@enquirer.com