AFTER HITTING BOARDS, BLACKMAN HITS BOOKS.

Byline: David Moore Dallas Morning News

Rolando Blackman and several other students were chatting in the lab once their experiment for an environmental geography class was completed.

One of the students quickly shifted the conversation to Blackman. He played in the NBA for 13 years. He was an All-Star. He remains the leading scorer in Mavericks history. He's made millions.

``Why are you back here?'' the student asked. ``You can do whatever you want.''

That's the point. Blackman is doing what he wants. He's pursuing his education not because it will help him find a job, not because it will make him more marketable or make him more money.

Blackman is back at Kansas State, 15 years after he left school for the NBA, because that is what he wants.

``I think some people have lost the focus of what an education is all about,'' Blackman said. ``Part of it is to learn a craft that will allow you to earn money. But when you earn a lot of money, all of a sudden people think that's the only thing.

``It's not the only thing. You should want to make yourself into more of a complete person. Some people focus so much on making money they forget about the enrichment of an education, the knowledge and diversity it brings. That goes by the wayside.''

Blackman, who earned his degree in social science on Dec. 14, is not naive. He knows a large part of society will continue to value success over education. NBA teams will never put more stock in an athlete's grade-point average than his scoring average.

At a time when the league is finding more and more teen-agers knocking on its door, Blackman is a throwback. While 18-year-old high school athletes are jumping directly to the NBA, Blackman, who turns 38 in February, has picked up his family and returned to Manhattan, Kan. to immerse himself in academia.

``It's a personal thing,'' Blackman said. ``I can't tell you I think what a Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Vancouver) or Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers) or Jermaine O'Neal (Portland) are doing is wrong. If you can sign a large, guaranteed contract, more power to you.

``The money is fantastic. But I just think as far as personal enrichment and learning about the world and the people in it, it's great to be able to get a college education. Especially the guys who are leaving early. Now, money is not a concern. You can do what you want because you are financially set. You can have other experiences.''

Blackman began the semester in Europe, looking to extend his playing career with a team in France. But a dispute with the club - Blackman said the terms of his contract were not fulfilled - led him to look at other options.

His wife, Tamara, had always encouraged him to go back to school because she knew that's what he wanted. Blackman made some calls and enrolled even though the semester was two weeks old. He flew from Paris to Kansas City with his family, then drove to Manhattan.

Blackman got up at 6 a.m. every Monday through Friday during the fall semester. He would drop his four kids off at school then be at the university library by 7:45.

His days often ended around midnight.