Now he is comical, a show-boating, dribbling magician, rocking and rolling to the strains of "Sweet Georgia Brown" as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters' West basketball team.

The former Barton College star won't display his smile and skill at the RBC Center today at 2 p.m. when the Trotters' East Team performs. But the whirlwind, all-over-the map-tour will land him in Asheville, Winston-Salem and Charlotte in March.

"Sometime I can't remember what day it is, we're switching time zones so much, [but] I'm having a blast and a whole lot more," said Atkinson, who signed with the Trotters in August after leading Barton to the 2007 Division II national championship.

Atkinson has met fans at Trotters games who saw his miracle finish and victory lap last March on tape. The 5-foot-9 guard scored 10 points in the final 39 seconds to lift Barton past Winona State in the title game, and after making the winning shot, sprinted behind the goal while euphoric teammates chased him.

Atkinson said "it's cool" that fans remember, but how could they forget? He will be hard-pressed to top that magic moment, but he wants to wow crowds as the "Dribbler" now, and has already gotten cheers of approval.

His speciality begins with a sprint, which turns into a slide at the 3-point line. While skidding about 25 feet across the court, Atkinson keeps his dribble alive, and adds humor by making "funny faces."

He duplicates that trick on the opposite side of the court, and also does a "walking-the-dog" dribbling routine.

In an effort to master his Trotter craft, Atkinson studied tapes of legendary Globetrotters Marcus Haynes and Curly Neal, plus worked with skilled ball-handlers on his West Team.

Since the summer, he has made two mini-tours in the U.S. and Canada, playing in several NBA arenas at night and taking in the city sights by day.

"Playing every day takes a toll; you can get worn down,'' Atkinson said. "You've got to make sure you take care of your body."

In addition to his solo dribbling, Atkinson usually plays two or three quarters of each game. Nobody keeps stats, and the final score isn't as critical as it was at Barton.

"It's entertainment,'' said Atkinson, whose effervescent personality fits the Trotters' mold. "It's not so serious when your personality kicks in and you have a good sense of humor. It's not about you; it's about the kids and the fans."

At one game, Atkinson spotted a youngster who was crying, went in the stands and handed him his wristband.

Next day he received an e-mail from the father explaining how much the gesture meant to his son, who slept with the wristband and wore it to school.

"You are with people all the time,'' Atkinson said. "We're having fun [and] you know you are touching lives. I could do this forever."

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