Jan. 3, 2008

His name is Aundre Branch, and while it's etched throughout the Baylor University men's basketball record book, it has all but disappeared in Branch's new line of work.

"Sometimes we talk to each other and I call somebody by his first name and I'm like, `Oh, my fault,'" said Branch, who as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters now goes by "Hot Shot." "It's something you've got to get used to."

Branch, a prolific 3-point shooter during his days at Baylor, is a jack-of-all-trades among basketball's court jesters, the Harlem Globetrotters. He still shoots the deep ball, and quite well hence the nickname "Hot Shot," but as a Globetrotter he's got to be able to do everything, he said. "Whatever they call on you to do you've got to be able to do it," Branch said.

After graduating from Baylor, Branch played in some overseas professional leagues. He got the Globetrotters' attention while working out in Texas, and after tearing through a professional league in the Dominican Republic, Branch got an invitation to try out. After watching the team's hijinks on television, he was somewhat surprised by the nature of his audition.

"I went and tried out, and there were like 60 guys, and it was strictly basketball, no tricks," Branch said, noting the would-be players had thrice-a-day workouts. "I ended up making the team and that's how it goes. They look at you as a basketball player first."

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