Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn

Although he tried to conceal the pain he was in throughout the majority of last season, Lourawls "Tum Tum" Nairn couldn't fool the Michigan State University (MSU) Spartans coaches and training staff.

And while most would have just sat out and waited to get back, Nairn did something completely unconventional. He chose to play through the pain.

While most players would have been concerned about their professional futures, Nairn wanted to give his all to the team.

"To tell you the truth, I played that year for my teammates," said Nairn. "I played through for Matt (Costello) and Zell (Denzel Valentine) and I knew that it was the last time I would play with them. I didn't look at it as hurting myself by playing, I was doing it for people I care about."

Nairn was forced to sit out seven games towards the end of last season. He returned for the Spartans' final 10 games, but played sparingly due to the lingering injury.

"I have a really high pain tolerance," Nairn said. "But I beat myself up mentally. Every day I had to come in and fight through it for practice, and then I had to fight through it for a game. On top of that I couldn't work on my game. I was doing nothing but practicing and walking around in a boot, every single day. So that dragged me mentally."

Nairn started the first 18 games of the season for the Spartans. Last season he became the third sophomore captain in MSU history after Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Mateen Cleaves.

Nairn got a chance to show that he's now healthy and ready to go this summer, putting on a number of impressive performances at the Moneyball Pro-Am.

At the tournament, he displayed an improved jump shot and weaved in and out of defenses with ease, a welcome site to MSU fans and coaches that watched Nairn struggle with planter fasciitis last season.

Randy Smith, Guardian Sports Reporter

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