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Marshall living out his dream photo by Drew Fleming By Kris Henry For most major college basketball players, life beyond the university is a struggle between clinging to a childhood dream and the reality that not everyone can be a NBA star. Todd Marshall had that dream, and in a way still does. While leading St. Mary�s High to a 25-0 record and state championship in 1993, the dream fostered for the Class 2A co-player of the year. Two unsatisfying years at St. Mary�s College tainted his glimmer of hope before promise was restored for the 6-foot-9, 260-pounder at Oregon State. As a Beaver, Marshall put up modest numbers in his first year following the transfer and then appeared ready to take charge in his senior campaign before a broken bone in his right hand dimmed that prospect. Somewhere between the NBA and a drury 9 to 5 existence, Marshall seems to have found his niche these days in the most unlikely of places � Sweden. Flourishing in a land of beautiful lakes, snow-capped mountains and rocky offshore islands exists Marshall, who has found a way to have his cake and eat it too. Marshall, 25, is into his second year of playing professional basketball in Europe, having spent time on the French Riviera, Germany and now Sweden. The highlight to date for Marshall has been the opportunity to play alongside childhood idol Magic Johnson as part of the former Los Angeles Lakers� European troupe. "It was pretty fun," Marshall says of his time with Johnson. "Magic�s always been a legend from my era and the times before. He and Larry Bird changed the sport and made it fastbreak basketball. "Playing with him was a different experience. You get to know the guy as a person instead of someone you see on TV or just hang out with after a game." That experience helped land Marshall a handful of workouts for NBA teams last summer. Not much came from those workouts, other than a realization that what Marshall has in Europe is far better than what he could experience in the NBA. "If I�m going to fly around the league I might as well do it over (in Europe) and see a different country and a different culture," he says. "It�s kind of the same path whichever way you go." Both paths bring the kind of financial security few will ever know, but each carry a degree of career instability that makes it wise to have one eye trained on the future. "If you�re not producing then you�re not there," says Marshall of the fickle world of professional basketball. In Europe, Marshall says he has the chance to lengthen his professional career beyond that of a typical NBA role player, while also broadening the scope of opportunities away from the basketball court. "It�s not just the NBA or nothing like it is here," he says of overseas basketball. "Over there (in Europe) you can move around to different leagues and still make good money. "If you do it right and invest you can actually make some money and retire on it." Beyond the court, Marshall already has done some consulting work in Europe to help build an international business portfolio. He�s also tried his hand at coaching one of the women�s teams in Sweden, suggesting basketball might never fully escape Marshall�s world once he hangs up his sneakers. "I don�t know where I�ll end up living or who I�ll end up meeting, but it�s an opportunity either way," he says. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.