RICHARDSON – Papi Kaba is out of bed at 5:30 a.m.

After getting ready for school, the Richardson Pearce senior walks two blocks and takes a bus to the DART station. He catches a train and transfers to another. After a second bus ride, he is a couple of blocks from school.

Time of commute: two hours.

Kaba could go to Lake Highlands, which is 2 ½ miles away, but he is loyal to longtime basketball teammates who attend Pearce.

He could drive 10 miles to Pearce in 20 minutes by car, but his family can't afford to get him one.

So Kaba makes the arduous commute.

"He has played with us so long," Pearce point guard Sammy McKee said. "It has never even crossed my mind that Papi wouldn't be with us."

Kaba has played ball with his teammates since second grade. Pearce (24-8) opens the playoffs tonight against Lindale (21-11).

The announcers at Pearce's basketball games have fun with some players' names. They introduce the 6-2 Kaba as "Big Papi" – a nod to Boston Red Sox slugger David "Big Papi" Ortiz.

Friends have called him "Baby Shaq" since grade school, when Kaba was a head taller and heavier than the rest.

Kaba, 18, is the team's second-leading scorer with an average of 10.5 points and is the team's best 3-point shooter.

RANDY ELI GROTHE / DMN

Papi Kaba commutes two hours to Richardson Pearce to play basketball with teammates he's known since second grade.

Mike Kunstadt, editor and publisher of Texas Hoops.com, said Kaba is a hard worker.

"He could develop his skills at a junior college and maybe be a Division I prospect after a couple of years," Kunstadt said. "Or he would be a real nice fit at a Division III program."

Kaba began commuting as a sophomore when one of the two family cars broke down.

During basketball season, he said, teammates often give him a ride to the train station after practice, taking 30 minutes off the trip. After games, parents or coaches drive him home.

"It just shows his dedication and character," said his teammate, Trevoy Dunn. "I'm not sure I can even do that, waking up at 5:30 a.m."

Some days on his commute, Kaba listens to music on the iPod one of his friends gave him after buying a newer model. Other days, he tries to do homework or falls asleep.

"I'm just ready to go home," he said.

Kaba said rising early doesn't bother him. He has seen his father, who holds an advanced college degree, wake up even earlier to get to his job as a cashier at a gas station.

"I want to pay him back," Kaba said. "I want to become somebody so his sacrifices won't be for nothing."

Lamine Kaba, a native of Guinea, came to Texas A&M as a researcher in 1987. His wife, Nakoumba Conde, came a year later.

Both studied in France. Lamine has a doctorate in chemistry, and Nakoumba has a master's in sociology. Lamine wrote research papers about electrochemical treatments of wastes before his grant expired in 1993.

Now Lamine, 58, works at a gas station to make ends meet. Nakoumba, 53, is trying to build a catering business.

Their first child was born on Christmas 1989 in College Station and named Faira after Nakoumba's father. Because the elder Faira was nicknamed Papa, the boy was called Papi – "small daddy."

The family moved to Lake Highlands in 1992. In 2001, the Richardson ISD approved Papi's enrollment at North Junior High, which is in Pearce's attendance zone. The family intended to move to Pearce's district but never did.

Papi entered Pearce in 2004 and is cleared to be there, said Tim Clark, director of communications for the Richardson ISD.

Papi's brother, Kefin, attends the magnet program at Richardson High. As a magnet student, the sophomore rides the school bus. Their sister, Passy, 14, takes special education classes at Lake Highlands Junior High.

The family lives in a three-bedroom apartment of about 1,200-square feet. Papi and Kefin share a bed. Passy has her own room.

Old family photos, including one of an 8-year-old, smiling Papi, hang on the living room walls. Papi's basketball trophies are displayed on top of the book shelves.

Lamine Kaba grew up playing soccer and doesn't understand basketball. He has seen Papi play just one time – last year against Highland Park.

But he's proud of how much effort Papi puts into basketball.

"He loves the game, I know that," Lamine said.

Every day, Lamine drives to work in Mesquite in his 1998 gray Toyota Camry. Some days, he's at work by 6 a.m. for a double shift that ends at 11 p.m.

But Lamine doesn't ask his son to work.

"Hit the books, that's what I want him to do," Lamine said. "After his high school graduation, he can help. It's already tough for him to go to school that far and come back late. To ask more than that, it's unfair."

Despite his situation, Lamine said he believes in the power of a good education. He likes that his son plays basketball, but he reminds Papi that school is the priority.

"It's the only thing you can rely on all the time," Lamine said. "Having a good education can help him have a better life than what I had."

Papi has a 3.10 grade-point average despite juggling basketball, school and a daily pair of two-hour trips.

It's Senior Night at Richardson Pearce, and Kaba waits by the door for his parents.

Neither is there on time. Lamine is working, and Nakoumba's 1996 green Toyota Camry has broken down. She and Passy, driven by a friend, arrive late.

Papi instead marches down the court with Katie and Robin Blakeley, parents of a junior teammate. He smiles when the announcer yells "Papi Kaba!" and the crowd greets him with thunderous applause.

"It's OK," Papi says of the Blakeleys. "They've done a lot for me. They're like my parents."

Katie Blakeley said families at Pearce try to help Papi because he has tried so hard to overcome the obstacles in his life.

"He just seems like such a good kid who's trying so hard to do the right thing that you want to reward him by helping him any way you can," she said.

An hour after the game, the gym is empty except for Papi, his sister and the custodians.

Director of facilities Bobby Long gave Papi's mother a ride home. He didn't have space for Papi and his sister in his pickup truck.

It's already 10 p.m. when Long returns for them. In less than eight hours, Papi must awaken and begin another journey.

Position: Guard

School, class: Richardson Pearce, Sr.

Height, weight: 6-2, 207

Nicknames: Big Papi, Papi Kaba San Lucas

Given name: Faira Kaba

Accomplishments: He has scored more than 650 points in his high school career and was named to the second all-district team last season.

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

Favorite meal: Lasagna

Favorite music: Hip Hop

Area playoffs: Richardson Pearce (24-8) vs. Lindale (21-11), 8 p.m. today, Wills Point