Mt. Lebanon boys' basketball coach Joe David remembers when Deion Turman, then 14, first tried out for the Blue Devils in 2006.

Turman was tall and skinny, and David said it was clear he needed a lot of work. He did not make the cut for the varsity or the junior varsity team.

But Turman was back the next season, with a little more muscle and a lot more work to his game.

David, still hesitant, welcomed Turman to the team.

"Deion was a project for me," David said. Three years later, the investment paid off.

Turman, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound center, averaged more than 12 rebounds a game for the Blue Devils and helped lead Mt. Lebanon to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship this spring.

But when it came time to pick a college, Turman heard a familiar refrain.

College coaches wanted to see Turman prove himself yet again.

He was being courted by a few Division I schools, including Florida International and James Madison. He considered attending prep school, which would allow him to increase his strength, work on his game and try to attract higher-profile college programs.

But after Turman's senior season, Robert Morris coach Andy Toole told him he was interested in offering a scholarship, but he wanted to see more out of this center, Turman said.

Turman said Toole asked him to improve during the summer AAU circuit -- to add some muscle and to be a more consistent player with a "non-stop motor."

"I worked really hard," Turman said.

The Robert Morris coaching staff noticed.

The Colonials extended a scholarship offer in mid-July, and after considering his options, Turman accepted earlier this month.

"I feel comfortable in that gym," Turman said. "I know the players from playing basketball. It's a team that's growing, and I want to help them grow."

He is the second Mt. Lebanon player to earn a Division I basketball scholarship. Teammate Evan Pierce will play at Wagner, Robert Morris' Northeast Conference foe. The teams will play twice each season, and Turman said Pierce has already started the playful banter.

"I think it's going to be fun," Turman said. "He talks a little stuff on Facebook."

Paul Lang, who will be a senior at Mt. Lebanon, accepted a football scholarship at Michigan State.

Turman said he first heard from Robert Morris' coaching staff when Mike Rice was the team's head coach. Toole, a former Colonials assistant, took over the position when Rice resigned in May to take the coaching job at Rutgers.

Toole continued to recruit Turman, who will help the Colonials fill a void left when big men Dallas Green and Rob Robinson graduated and Brad Piehl transferred.

Turman said he thinks he will be able to be an asset, on one condition.

"If I work hard," he said. "I've got to work hard."

David said he expects Turman to be a strong Division I player, but he cautioned it could take some time for Turman to adjust to the college game.

Turman will turn 18 Friday, meaning he is younger than most incoming freshmen basketball players, and by nature, David said, bigger players need more time to develop.

But David believes Turman is up to the task. He dedicated himself to become an impact player on one of the state's most talented high school teams, and he earned an athletic scholarship at an emerging basketball program.

Standing in the Mt. Lebanon gym three years ago, few could see that potential in Turman. Now, both are proud of what Turman has accomplished.

"It definitely doesn't come easy," Turman said. "You have to work for it."

He would know.

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