Former Lower Merion High School Coach Recalls Kobe Bryant's Rise To Stardom

Alexandria Hoff reports.

TO GROW, FANS AND FRIENDS HAVELEFT FLOWERS, CARDS ANDBASKETBALLS WITH MESSAGES ONTHEM.KOBE'S SUCCESS ON THE COURTSTARTED AT A YOUNG AGE.IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR PEOPLETO REALIZE HE HAD A SPECIALTALENT.ALEXANDRIA HOFF SPOKE TO ONE OFHIS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES TALKEDABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOLER WHOTURNED INTO A LEGEND.Reporter: 27 YEARS AGO HEMADE A BIG PREDICTION.DECEMBER 7, 1992.THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRERPUBLISHED AN ARTICLE ABOUT THELOWER MERION ACES.IT READ REMEMBER THIS NAME: KOBEBRYANT.HE WAS READY FOR ANYTHING.Reporter: HE GOT TO KNOW THEFUTURE STAR WHEN KOBE WAS 12 ANDCOVERED HIS BUDDING CAREEREXTENSIVELY AS A MEMBER OF THEMEDIA BEFORE BEING BROUGHT ON ASAN ASSISTANT COACH TO THE ACESWHERE HE ALSO SERVED AS ALIAISON BETWEEN THE PRESS, THEPUBLIC AND KOBE.ATHLETICALLY AND SCHOLASTICALLYTHERE WAS PLENTY.HE COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHEREHE WANTED ON ACADEMICS.Reporter: MAKING BRYANT EVENMORE OF A RARITY.KOBE BRYANT HAS ONE LEVEL,HIS BAR IS HERE.EVERYONE ELSE'S BAR IS HERE.THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE I SAW AS AKID, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE I SAWAS AN NBA PLAYER, AND THAT'S THEDIFFERENCE I WAS SEEING IN HISNEW CHAPTER FROM AGE 40 TO WHATSHOULD HAVE BEEN 85.Reporter: THE HOURS FOLLOWINGTHE PASSING HAS LEFT THOSE WHOKNEW THEM STRUGGLING WITH AQUESTION WHERE DOES ALL THATPROMISE GO.SUPERMAN IS NOT SUPPOSED TODIE.MR. INVINCIBILITY IS NOTSUPPOSED TO DIE.IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ANY OFUS.Reporter: INCLUDING LOWERMERION'S HEAD COACH GREGG DOWNERWHO COACHED HIM WHEN THE ACESWON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.IT MAY SEEM ODD FOR A GROWN MANTO ADMIT IT BUT YESTERDAY I LOSTMY HERO.NEVER HAVE I WITNESSED SUCHPASSION, WORK ETHIC ANDINTENSITY.SUCH A UNIQUE AND PURPOSEFULDRIVE FOR GREATNESS.NO EXCUSES, NO SHORTCUTS, NODAYS OFF.KOBE SET THE STANDARD.HE WAS OUR SUPERMAN.