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Turbaned Harman makes a statement
for the community: "He's special"
 TOMS
RIVER: Harmandip Ghuman is instantly recognizable yet somehow even
his closest friends have trouble pronouncing his name. The Lenape
Indians junior is the best Sikh basketball player in the Tournament
of Champions. His friends call him Herman, with an 'e,' not an 'a.'
"It doesn't
really matter to me," Ghuman said. "Even teachers mispronounce it. I
don't mind. People call me Herman."
At a lanky
6-foot-4, Ghuman would stand out anyway. Add in his full beard and
turban required by his faith that makes him an inch or two taller
and Ghuman not only sticks out, he can't be missed. Ghuman
color-coordinates his light-weight turban with his uniform jersey.
"I'm able to
work everything out around basketball," Ghuman said. "I've been
playing basketball since fourth grade and I've never really seen
anybody else wearing a turban on the court. I guess it is an honor
to be one of the only ones out there."
Lenape plays in
the Olympic Conference American Division, which is known for its
rugged play and fierce rivalries. There are more than a few vocal
and unrelenting fan bases to play in front of, too. Ghuman, who's a
quick, easy target for opposing fans, has the perfect makeup to
combat the crowds.
"Herman's always
been one of my better friends so I never even thought about him
being different," point guard Mike Celestin said. "A lot of times
you'll hear discriminating cheers. But honestly, the games when he's
hearing cheers like that, he's hitting four, five 3's. It makes him
angry, gives him a little spark."
Ghuman is a
3-point shooting specialist, who's become a defensive replacement as
well. He's averaged 5.3 points in the playoffs and has 19 3-pointers
on the season.
"We trust him
with the ball. At the end of the game, we know that he's either
going to take the good shot or make a good decision with the ball.
Herman's special."
Just as Ghuman's
turban hides the hair he doesn't cut, the forward's stoic outward
demeanor hides his true personality. There's a private side to
Ghuman that outsiders can only guess at.
"Herman's
hilarious," Celestin said. "When you first meet him, he's a pretty
quiet kid. But when you get to know him he opens up. He keeps us all
loose. He's pretty smart and has an amazing work ethic. Everybody
has a big role on this team and Herman has a bigger role than most
guys."
To a man, from
the first player introduced to the last guy on the bench, no one
could imagine this team being where it is today without their
'Herman.' Ghuman has appreciated every minute of it.
"It's an honor
to play for a team like this," Ghuman said. "The 2004 team, as
great as it was, didn't win a Tournament of Champions game. To be
able to say we did something that team didn't do, that's a real
honor."
Courtesy Burlington County Times
25 March 2009
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