KOBE ATOP HIS CLASS 1,500 FANS GATHER TO HONOR BRYANT IN PENNSYLVANIA.

Byline: Howard Beck Staff Writer

ARDMORE, Pa. - It felt like home again for Kobe Bryant, and it's been awhile since he could say that and mean it with this much feeling and warmth.

Bryant has been back to Philadelphia a half-dozen times since leaving Lower Merion High for the NBA in 1996. But the annual homecoming soundtrack has been decidedly hostile, a mix of ``Kobe sucks!'' chants and choruses of boos, and that's what happens when you're the one beating up the Philadelphia 76ers, when you represent Hollywood glitz instead of Philly grit.

Kobe Bryant has gotten used to the villain role they created for him.

But not here. Standing in the gym where he declared his intention to ``take my talents to the NBA,'' in a neighborhood where he's still the hometown hero, Bryant was warmly shrouded by 1,500 adoring fans Saturday night.

They raised Bryant's maroon-and-white No. 33 jersey to the rafters, played videos that bore testament to his teen-age greatness, and a parade of old friends paid tribute. For the first time in years, Philadelphia - or at least Ardmore - welcomed him back.

A standing ovation greeted him. In the front rows were his parents, Joe and Pam Bryant, his wife, Vanessa, his longtime friend and trainer, Joe Carbone, and a sizable Lakers contingent headed by Shaquille O'Neal. The rest of the gym was packed with local admirers.

``It's always good to come home, and be back,'' Bryant said, and he half-apologized for not making that clear during the Finals last June. ``I kidded around a lot, last year when I came back home to play in the NBA Finals. But all jokes aside, it was very exciting for me to be home. I didn't want to make too much of a big deal out of it because I had a job to do, and that's to win an NBA championship. But it felt good to be home.''

For that, he was clearly forgiven.

His former coach, Gregg Downer, and several old high school teammates joined Bryant on the stage for the jersey raising. All told stories of Bryant's unmatched work ethic, the joy he brought to the court and the dedication he showed to his team, while a pair of English teachers vouched for his dedication in the classroom.

Already hanging in the gym was a banner that bore Bryant's name and the imprint he left from 1992 to 1996: 2,883 career points, a state championship in '96, McDonald's All-American, Naismith Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of the Year.

O'Neal and Lakers Samaki Walker, Brian Shaw, Rick Fox, Mark Madsen and Devean George sat a row behind Bryant's wife. O'Neal filmed the event with a handheld digital camera. And they all buckled over in laughter as they listened to former Lower Merion teammate Jermaine Griffin tell of Bryant's passing skills.

Griffin recalled standing on the low block, unguarded, watching Bryant take on three defenders at once, then taking the shot. Then four defenders the next time. And finally, the entire opposing team. And finally, Bryant dished off to Griffin for the layup.

``So the moral of the story is, if you don't get it the first or the second time, you might get it the third time,'' Griffin said, to much applause. ``I got at least six points a game.''

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Photo:

Kobe Bryant looks to Jermaine Griffin, right, the co-captain from his senior season at Lower Merion High, as his jersey is hoisted to the top of the gym.

Douglas M. Bovitt/Associated Press