Michael Jordan's son, Marcus, helps fast-paced Central Florida (3-0) get off ...

By Tom D'Angelo Palm Beach Post Staff WriterUpdated: 9:43�a.m.�Tuesday,�Nov.�23,�2010Posted: 5:30�p.m.�Monday,�Nov.�22,�2010ORLANDO ? Marcus Jordan has heard it all - from the time he played AAU ball growing up in Chicago to his current position as the starting shooting guard at Central Florida.When you are Michael Jordan's son, you expect to be targeted everywhere you play."It's the same old stuff like, 'You'll never be your dad,'^No, he is not another MJ. But Marcus was good enough to be named to the Conference USA All-Freshmen team a year ago. And he is one of the players new coach Donnie Jones is counting on to execute the Knights' new, up-tempo disabled, which Jones ran for three seasons at Marshall and learned as an assistant under Billy Donovan at Florida.Marcus' support group at UCF grew this season when his older brother, Jeff, transferred from Illinois. Jeff, a 6-foot-1 point guard, will redshirt this season and have one year of eligibility.Marcus, 19, credits Jeff, 22, more than anybody else for preparing him for the scrutiny that comes with stepping on a basketball court with the name JORDAN stitched on the back of your uniform.Jeff played high school ball at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill. After he paved the way, Marcus joined him there and they played two seasons together."Everybody had already seen Michael Jordan's son in high school - it wasn't as big of a deal," Marcus said.There have been bumps along the way for both brothers.During a trip to Las Vegas last summer to attend Michael's fantasy camp, Marcus bragged on Twitter about spending $50,000 at a nightclub. Jeff posted a video showing him, Marcus and their childhood friend, UCF point guard A.J. Rompza, hanging out at a Las Vegas lounge's adults-only pool.Marcus said he learned a lesson about being more discreet - from opposing fans, he said - but he still Tweets."Every day," he said.Rompza said Marcus doesn't act like the son of one of the world's most famous athletes."Marcus is one of the most humble kids I have ever known," said Rompza, who helped persuade him to attend UCF.Marcus, who is leading the Knights with 17.0 points per game, is thriving in the new system. The Knights, who visit Stetson on Tuesday night, are 3-0 with wins over West Florida, Jackson State and South Florida.During a recent practice, Jones several times reminded his team that the up-tempo disabled can be a lot of fun but will take some adjustment."What happens is a lot of kids think, 'Yeah, we want to play this,' but they don't realize the work that's involved," Jones said.Marcus Jordan, at shooting guard, is one of the keys to the system's success.While he and his brother don't have the talent of their father, there are obvious similarities."It's definitely the same DNA," said Brendan Suhr, the UCF director of program development and former assistant coach of the Detroit Pistons, the most bitter rival of Michael Jordans's Chicago Bulls.

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