A decade after being dubbed the "Jewish (Michael) Jordan" while averaging 35 points for the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore, Tamir Goodman is going about his business with much less fanfare these days.

Last week, at the Jewish Community Center in Owings Mills, Goodman finished teaching 15 young players at his Tamir Goodman Athletic Leadership Basketball Camp.

The camp was designed to help black and Jewish players build a comfort zone with each other while still being competitive on the court.

Goodman said several "anonymous" sponsors help make the camp available to both able-bodied and special-needs players.

"I'm very happy with the quality of players and the way they worked together on and off the court," Goodman said. "We brought the best Jewish players in the country here, and the way they interacted (with the black players) was special."

While he didn't name any of the Jewish players, Goodman said that 6-foot-4 Mount St. Joseph rising freshman Phillip Lawrence has "a size 16 shoe, a heart of gold and a tremendous work ethic."

The camp was primarily for players who intend to continue their careers past high school, which Goodman did for Towson University and for several professional teams in Israel.

"They're all looking to get to the next level," Goodman said. "That's why we played at college-level speed. I wouldn't let them settle to play at high school speed."

Goodman knows all about the hype and circumstance that go along with college recruiting, considering he was one of the most highly publicized recruits in state history after being offered a scholarship to attend the University of Maryland in 1999.

After being released from his commitment to play for the Terps -- partially because his commitment to his Orthodox faith precluded him from playing from sundown Fridays for 24 hours -- Goodman attended Towson.

He left the Tigers during his sophomore year after a dispute with then-coach Michael Hunt. He embarked on a pro career in Israel.

Goodman now plays for Lawrence Moten, formerly of Syracuse University and the Vancouver Grizzlies, in the Premier Basketball League. Moten coaches the Maryland Nighthawks, who play home games during the league's season, which runs January to March, at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda.

Goodman spends much of his off-season hosting camps that, like his most recent one, "are a way for me to give back."

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