Former Cougars star Andrew Goudelock learning a new role for Lakers

Andrew Goudelock’s summer has taken him from Charleston, where he’s played pickup games with his former teammates, to China, where he is meeting with representatives of Peak, the shoe company he endorses and for whom he will be designing his own brand.

And in between, he’s been working hard at learning to play a new position. At 6-3, Goudelock came into the NBA as an undersized shooting guard who scored 2,571 points for the College of Charleston. Now, the Los Angeles Lakers are encouraging him to learn to play point guard. He’s working on his ballhandling and learning to make the right decisions on when to shoot and when to pass.

“Everything I’ve done this summer is geared toward me being a better point guard. That’s a really tough position to learn at this stage of my career,” Goudelock said during a recent visit to Charleston. “I’m just trying to make strides and keep going in the right direction.

“I’m still making strides. My summer is just getting going. Training camp doesn’t start until October, so I’m still trying to get better, get where I think they’ll like. Once I get to that point, maybe I can relax a little.”

The Lakers have encouraged him to lose weight, and he has dropped 15 pounds, down to 190. He said that has come from eating the right things and working out more.

“The biggest problem was how much I was eating. I’ve been on a more strict diet and watching what I put in my body. I started to feel better on the court, and I’ve seen results on the court with my body fat and weight going down. I’m definitely not eating as much,” Goudelock said.

Goudelock had an up-and-down rookie season, playing in 40 games for the Lakers, averaging 10.5 minutes and 4.4 points. Goudelock enjoyed a lot of playing time when Steve Blake was injured, averaging 22 minutes and 12 points over a seven-game stretch. But later in the season when Lakers coach Mike Brown went to a shorter rotation, Goudelock found himself on the outside looking in.

The Lakers have put together some big trades since the season ended, but Goudelock said he tries not to read anything into the moves and how they may affect him. His goal is to still give 100 percent, he said, and the rest will take care of itself.

Goudelock also made an offseason move in representation, signing with ASM Sports, after first being represented by Austin Walton, who helped him negotiate a two-year deal with the Lakers. Goudelock said the change was a family decision, and that included talking with his former college coach, Bobby Cremins.

Goudelock still lacks a few hours to get his degree from the College of Charleston and hopes to eventually finish school, but his summer schedule made it impossible for him to take any classes.

“I’m still seeing the guys,” he said of his former teammates. “I’m still playing pickup ball. I’ll always be a part of this school.”