Barry Rohrssen figures college coaches take chances all the time. The Manhattan College men’s basketball coach would rather take one on Kevin Laue, whose left arm ends just past the elbow, than let the opportunity slip away. So last week, the Division I school signed the 6-foot- 10 center, and Rohrssen is confident Laue’s work ethic will rub off on other players.
“Some coaches may say, ‘We need a shooter,’ ” Rohrssen said. “My feeling was our team needed a stronger work ethic.”
When Laue was born the circulation in his left arm was cut off by the umbilical cord. He uses his upper arm to help receive passes, and his large right hand allows him to palm the ball.
“I’m a risk. Coach Rohrssen was willing to take it,” Laue said. “He has no reason to worry.”
Laue knows what would happen if a coach took a chance on him and he didn’t pan out. Fans would wonder what the coach was thinking using a scholarship on a center missing his left hand.
“It’s a business,” Laue said. “Their jobs are all on the line. It’s much safer to take a two- handed guy my size that got beat by me.”
