Making His Own Way

It's basketball season and eighth-grader Marcus Goodson is on the hardwood of the Legends Sports Complex working with his AAU hoop team.

He's wearing some oversized Gonzaga basketball shorts to represent his older brother Meech Goodson who plays for the Zags.

"When I'm playing basketball, I'm trying to be like Meech," he says. "When I'm on the football field, I'm trying to be like Michael."

Michael, of course, is the eldest of the Houston Goodsons, who have become the first family of sports in the Klein Independent School District. The 6-foot tailback was one of the nation's most coveted recruits in 2006, and has been playing for Texas A&M for three seasons. He will enter the NFL draft this year and will be playing for pay in months to come.

Marcus favors Michael in looks and in athletic style.

"It's been hard being the younger brother of those two guys," Marcus said. "I'm just trying to find my own identity. I don't see Meech much because he's so far away, but I do see Michael a lot. They just tell me to work hard and be the absolute best on the field."

Having a well-respected last name can also mean big expectations. Marcus has been dominating the seventh and eighth-grade ranks at Schindewolf Junior High as a quarterback and a shooting guard, and he will attend Klein Collins High School like his brothers before him.

It will be just a matter of time before he cracks the varsity lineup, at least in football.

"I want to play both sports in high school," he said. "As far as my dreams go, I want to play football for the Florida Gators and go to the NFL. That's a long way away though."

For now, he physically and athletically dominates an AAU basketball practice.

"He's the best athlete on our team," coach Teresa Tran said. "He's really a team player. He sees the floor well and is our best defender. He's just a really strong, athletic kid."

So who is the best of the Goodson clan?

"Might be my sister who plays basketball," he said. "She dominates more than all of us."

Courtney Goodson is eleven.