Daily News from New York, New York • 91

CM mm I wy- I III illl 11 yime ct wL Pitino sees one dream come true Rick Pitino was out in the bright sunshine yesterday for his former star player, but brought his own perspective to the proceedings. "I'm overwhelmed," Pitino said. "Three years ago when Jamal (Mashburn) first came to Kentucky, we had talked about a day like this. It was a dream, and now that dream has become a reality." Pitino thinks Mashburn will end up in Golden State in the No. 3 slot, but also thinks a Shaq-Mash tandem in Orlando would be intriguing.

"It's a natural combination," Pitino said. "Shaquille needs someone out at the perimeter to help break defenses down. That's what Jamal can do." The former Knicks coach who also feels New York should be in the market for a point guard recently was given a bonus by Kentucky; if he stays through 2000, he'll receive $1 million. "I hope it happens," said Pitino, entering his fourth season at Kentucky. "It's like being married.

If you're happily married, you're in love, and you stay together. If you're not happily married, you get divorced. It all depends on the happiness element" Staple By ARTHUR STAPLE Daily News Sports Writer i This is the time of year when kids come home from college. If they've done well at school, maybe Mom and Dad throw a party. But for Jamal Mashbum, homecoming is much more.

Mashburn. a 6-8, 240-pound forward and a Bronx native who is leaving behind his fi- nal year at the University of Kentucky to turn pro, hasn't played a minute in the NBA, but he is already a multi-mil- lionaire thanks to Fila, the sportswear company that signed Mashburn to a report- ed five-year, $7-million endorsement contract 4 "The money isn't every-i thing," said Mashburn, 20, ad-: dressing a group of young- sters yesterday at Booker T. I Washington Junior High School on the upper West Side. The event was organized by Fila to announce Mashburn's deal and to give kids a chance to meet the former Cardinal Hayes star. "I think it's most important to just be happy.

The money, it's nice, but being happy is the key." Mashburn is projected to go in the top three in the June 30 draft He likely will go third, after Michigan's Chris Webber and BYU's Shawn Bradley, but he makes no bones about where he would like to play. "I'd love to go play with Shaq," said Mashburn. "I could open things up for him. He needs his space." Mashburn's parents, Helen and Robert, also were at Booker T. Washington.

"It's a very emotional day," said Helen Mashburn, who still lives in the apartment on 159th St where Jamal grew up. "I used to think about a day like this. Now it's here." "I thank God. I'm just so proud of him," said Robert Mashburn. "I knew he had it in him since he was born.

I'm just so glad everyone is out here to see him. Now the world knows how great he is." The company, making its first entry into the highly competitive basketball shoe industry, is high on Mash. So SCHOOL'S OUT: Jamal Mashburn is home from school. And he took a little time to speak to kids at Booker T. Washington Junior High School.

DAN FARRELL DAILY NEWS high that a "signing bonus" a Ferrari Spyder was parked next to the podium. "He really is the foundation of our efforts in basketball," said Howe Burch, director of advertising and communications for Fila. "We considered several players, but we went with Jamal because he's honest, he's humble just a great kid." Mashburn won't bask in the glory of his new wealth, how- ever. He has established the Monster Mash Invitational, a basketball tourney for high school kids around the projects where he grew up. "I'll always come back and help out when I'm in the NBA," said Mashburn.

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