Laffitte Is Finally on a Roll, and That’s Good News for USIU

Demetrius Laffitte, who is called “D-Train” by his U.S. International basketball teammates, is back on track.

Laffitte, who led USIU in scoring and rebounding last season, has things going again after a slow start. And that is exactly what the Gulls will need if they are going to get back in the season. Laffitte scored 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting Wednesday night to help lead the Gulls to a 102-77 rout of Central Connecticut State at Golden Hall.

Kevin Bradshaw, the fifth-leading scorer in the country, had 35 points and Steve Smith added 26 for USIU (6-10). Kevin Swann scored 20 points to lead Central Connecticut State (1-9).

Laffitte had 17 points in the first half as the Gulls took a 45-32 lead. They never trailed, and the closest Central Connecticut State could get in the second half was 50-41. Coach Gary Zarecky then put the starters back in, and USIU easily pulled away for the victory.

Laffitte was a Street & Smith preseason independent All-American for 1989-90 but was averaging 15.3 points per game and shooting just 57% from the free throw line after USIU’s first 11 games.

In his past five games, Laffitte is averaging 22 points, shooting 70% from the field and 78% from the line. He is also leading the team in rebounding for the season with nine per game. Against Central Connecticut State, he had eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

“He is the key to our winning,” Zarecky said. “We’re having to learn to play with Kevin (Bradshaw). Last year our chemistry was such that we didn’t have the so-called superstar. Kevin, in turn, has to get his teammates involved, especially Demetrius. We’re going to need a solid Demetrius to win on the road.”

That is where the Gulls have seven of their remaining 13 games.

Laffitte was not coming up with these kinds of complete performances at the beginning of the season.

“I felt there was a lot of pressure on me,” Laffitte said. “I wasn’t concentrating. I was just coming out here and playing. I thought everything would fall for me.”

Very little fell, except perhaps for Laffitte’s scoring and rebounding averages.

“I’m coming out of it right now,” said Laffitte, who played at Monte Vista High School. “Well, I am out of it.”