Michigan State University Athletics
Lourawls 'Tum Tum' Nairn Jr: Faith In The Game
11/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Hanna Sprague, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
At the age of 13, Lourawls Nairn Jr. found his seat on a one-way flight to the United States; leaving behind everything he had known in efforts to find a better way of life for his family.
The story of "Tum Tum" began 1,288 miles from East Lansing in Nassau, Bahamas. It was there that his identity was established, an identity that has stood strong through life-changing experiences.
"There was this movie called the 3 Ninjas," said Nairn Jr. "The littlest brother in the movie was named `Tum Tum' and, as my mom was feeding me my bottle, he was eating a bunch of candy. She just started calling me `Tum Tum'."
The bottle days came and went, but the nickname stuck.
"I've watched my mom struggle for as long as I can remember," said Nairn. "She's my biggest motivation to make a way for her to get out of the position she is in."
When his ninth birthday rolled around, Nairn was first introduced to the game of basketball. The first feeling of the ball between his fingertips stays deeply rooted in his history.
"I was walking down the street with my dad, and my cousin said, `you should let Tum come play ball with us,'" said Nairn. "That was the first time I had ever touched a basketball."
Nairn quickly fell in love with the fast-paced game and he spent each day working to better himself both on and off the court. His efforts didn't go unnoticed.
His first stop in Florida didn't yield the desired results, but eventually, Nairn caught the eye of Sunrise Christian head coach Kyle Lindsted. After watching him excel athletically and command presence as a 5'10'' point guard, Lindsted offered Nairn the opportunity to bring his talents to Sunrise Christian. With consent from his parents, Nairn took a leap of faith.
"I told my mom that I would get a Division I scholarship and I'd play in the NBA," said Nairn. "To know that one of the things I promised her actually came true - I had goose bumps."
Sunrise Christian, located in Wichita, Kansas, not only shaped the path to Nairn's success in the game, but also supported his faith. Knowing Nairn's aim was to make a way for his family, Lindsted opened his eyes to the endless possibilities his future had to hold.
"I know that I am nothing without God," said Nairn. "Everything I do and all the talents and gifts that I have are because of Him. I know that He is continuing to bless me and put me in the positions I'm in today."
In his first months at Sunrise, Nairn struggled with the separation from his family.
"The hardest part was not being able to see my mom every day," said Nairn. "Waking up and knowing that she wasn't going to be there every morning like it had been before."
Separated by both land and water, the early advice from his mother stays active in his mind, even today.
"When I first left home, her advice to me was `never let anybody tell me that I can't do what I want to do,'" said Nairn. "She would tell me to stay focused and keep God first. Believe in myself and I'll be able to accomplish anything."
Nairn looked to Sunrise for companionship during his transition. In no time at all, convincing bonds were forming.
"Coach Kyle was like a dad to me and all of my teammates were like brothers to me," said Nairn. "Sunrise taught me how to become a better man and look at life in a different way."
Nairn developed as both an athlete and a person, keeping his goals clear in the forefront of his mind.
As athletes from the 2014 recruiting class made verbal commitments, head coach Tom Izzo knew there was something special about Nairn.
In his senior season, Nairn agreed to take an official visit to MSU.
"It was a lot like Sunrise," said Nairn. "A big family atmosphere when I was here on my visit. The players made me feel like I was a part of the team already. Not to deny any other school, but it wasn't like that on my other visits."
After a short time with the MSU basketball program, it wasn't the tangible objects that sold Nairn, it was the people who made up the university.
"Basketball is just one part of it," said Nairn. "I want to be around good people to help me reach my goals in life."
With matching goals of winning a National Championship, Izzo and Nairn struck similar interests, immediately initiating their relationship.
"We're just alike in terms of the way we grind and what we want out of the game," said Nairn. "If you want me to be completely honest, I really want to be the best point guard Izzo has ever coached."
The moment Nairn arrived on campus, his leadership values shone through. With many comparing his leadership to the 2000 national championship team captain Mateen Cleaves, the true freshman can command the attention of the entire program.
"It comes from not coming from much and always wanting more," said Nairn. "I think when you're an undersized player a lot of people tend to look down on you and say `his play is too small', but I think that's what gave me that `[Spartan] Dawg' mentality, just wanting to prove people wrong."
As his first semester at MSU moved along steadily, the date circled on his calendar drew nearer and nearer. Michigan State was to take on The Master's College in their first exhibition game of the 2014-15 season, and Nairn was going to get his first taste of being on the court as a Spartan.
"It was very emotional for me," said Nairn. "Just knowing what I came from and knowing how I grew up, it was such a blessing for me and my family. Putting on that jersey for the first time and hearing the announcer calling my name was just - it just makes you feel good."
Sweaty palms were the theme leading up to the game, but, when it was all said and done, Nairn described his outing as an incredibly humbling experience.
"Every time I walk in, even when I go to practice, I still think about it every day that I'm actually here," said Nairn. "It's such a blessing for me and my family."
Like many aspiring Division I basketball players, Nairn hopes to continue his career into the NBA. But, unlike many others, that's far from his only goal.
At the age of 10, Nairn would wake up at 6 a.m. to flip through the television channels, startled by the images of starving people around the world.
"I said that one day I'm going to start my own feed-the-children foundation and help kids that are not eating right and not eating everyday," said Nairn. "That's been one of my biggest goals since I was a kid."
In a short amount of time, the MSU basketball program has left a mark on Nairn, and, in return, he has left his mark on the program.
"I want to be known as a point guard that leaves it all out on the court every night," said Nairn. "Whatever you pray about and whatever you believe you can do, as long as you work as hard as you can every day, you can achieve that."
