Lamar Odom "Is a Great Human Being," "Would Never Hurt Anyone But Himself" Says Former Coach Bill Bayno

"I don't think you will ever find anyone saying one bad word about him," says recruiter

As Lamar Odom remains hospitalized in Las Vegas and fighting for his life, people he's known at all stages of his life are hoping for his recovery.

Lamar's former coach Bill Bayno, who recruited him to play college basketball at UNLV, tells E! News exclusively he's "been praying for him from last night," adding sincerely, "I don't think you will ever find anyone saying one bad word about him."

"He is a great, great human being," said Bayno. "He would never hurt anyone but himself...it's just sad. I am just praying that he can pull though."

Although Bayno recruited Odom to play for UNLV in 1997, his collegiate career didn't actually begin until he transferred to the University of Rhode Island.

"He ended up transferring before he ever enrolled," Bayno recalled.

After that, "Lamar and I had a falling out," he continued, "and I didn't handle the situation well, and I was the adult, and I could of handled things  [in a] much better way..."

But Odom has never been the type to hold a grudge. As Bayno tells E! News, he and the athlete later "ran into each other in L.A.," where they "spoke for three hours, gave each other a hug, and we stayed in touch ever since."

"Ever since and every time I saw him, he always came up to me and gave me love," he added. "He had such a great effect on people. You see it now everybody that talks about Lamar."

"He is just a sweet, sweet person, man," Bayno told E! News. "He cares about the world. He cares about others, and I am just praying for him."

For more on Lamar Odom's hospitalization and how Khloe Kardashian is coping, tune in to E! News at 7 & 11 p.m. tonight on E!