Basketball is in Eric Ferguson’s blood. So is winning.
At Statesboro, where year after year a winning squad emerges and another collegiate talent is developed, it’s not surprising that Ferguson is ready to take the next step in his basketball career.
At 6-foot-7, Ferguson is without a doubt the Blue Devils’ go-to guy. Getting to that point, however, was a test in leadership, confidence and heredity.
As a freshman at SHS, Ferguson was a frail 6-foot frame with nothing more than a scorer’s mentality. His father, Calvester Ferguson, played at Georgia Southern and was 3rd-team All-Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference his senior year.
Calvester still ranks fifth on GSU’s all-time list with blocks during a senior season (27), fourth in free throw percentage in a senior season (55.7), ninth with a 55.7 field goal percentage over the course of a season and led the team in field goals made with 128 in 1991.
“I walked in the gym and knew right away that he was Cal Ferguson’s son,” said Mike Backus, who stops by the Statesboro gym every now and then to catch up with head coach Lee Hill.
Backus took Ferguson under his wing on the side, teaching him more about confidence and work ethic as Hill groomed his on-the-court game.
“(Backus) would come over, sit right here and tell me what I’m doing wrong, be on me all the time,” said Ferguson. “It was hard to take it, but I took it anyway to try and make me a better person.”
It was the tough love that Eric needed. Calvester and Eric’s mom separated some time ago, and Cal has been playing ball in South America for almost a decade now.
“It’s kinda hard,” said Eric. “I’m doing it just with my mom, but then again my mom is like my father, too. She’s out there supporting me.”
Eric said he and Cal still talk, as one tells the other about their respective basketball lifestyles.
“He always tells me to play with heart,” said Eric. “Just go out there and give it all. At Georgia Southern, he told me that he couldn’t even dunk as a freshman. He worked hard, just to be able to dunk. He tells me never to give up when it gets hard. Coaches are going to be on me because they see something good in me.”
Eric began playing basketball at the age of four. He began being competitive at birth.
“It runs through the family,” he said. “Losing is not in my blood. I’m not even able to think about losing.”
Like it or not, losing has been a part of Ferguson’s senior season. Midway through the year, the Devils were not only losing games, they were losing players. Six members of the team were dismissed for rules violations, leaving Ferguson as one of just two seniors.
“It’s a tough process,” Ferguson said. “Always having to be on the younger guys and be telling them what to do. It’s kind of like a challenge for me, too. I wasn’t used to it with the other seniors starting. Now I have to keep them up and be like a big brother to them.”
With Backus giving off-the-court lessons and Hill molding Ferguson’s game on the court, there was still one thing left for Eric to do — grow.
The senior has sprouted seven inches since his rookie campaign, and Backus still believes he has more growing to do.
“I coached his daddy,” explained Backus. “What’s encouraging was that his daddy is 7-feet tall. I knew there was a growth spurt coming.”
At 175 pounds, Ferguson has morphed into the new-age player — a deadly guard in a forwards body. His inside-out game leaves defenses baffled as to whether to chase him around the perimeter or put a big body on him down low. It’s believed he may be the first Blue Devil to score 40 points in a game in almost 20 years.
“I think he’s more talented than his daddy,” said Backus.
He may be right. Ferguson has garnered interest from schools all over the place — Illinois, North Florida, South Carolina State, Campbell and plenty more Ferguson couldn’t remember off the top of his head.
“There’s one thing that he has that you can’t coach or teach — the ability to score,” added Backus. “His father had it. He has it. He can absolutely finish with the basketball in his hands I think his better days are ahead of him.”
Ferguson and Statesboro (12-10) will try to avenge a loss to cross-county rival Portal tonight at Southeast Bulloch. The game is sold out.
“It was a tough loss because we didn’t play with pride at all,” said Ferguson of Statesboro’s 55-52 loss to PHS (23-1) in Round One. “It was kinda tough knowing that I’m supposed to carry the team and I didn’t do anything. All I know is (tonight) — it’s on.”
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
At Statesboro, where year after year a winning squad emerges and another collegiate talent is developed, it’s not surprising that Ferguson is ready to take the next step in his basketball career.
At 6-foot-7, Ferguson is without a doubt the Blue Devils’ go-to guy. Getting to that point, however, was a test in leadership, confidence and heredity.
As a freshman at SHS, Ferguson was a frail 6-foot frame with nothing more than a scorer’s mentality. His father, Calvester Ferguson, played at Georgia Southern and was 3rd-team All-Trans Atlantic Athletic Conference his senior year.
Calvester still ranks fifth on GSU’s all-time list with blocks during a senior season (27), fourth in free throw percentage in a senior season (55.7), ninth with a 55.7 field goal percentage over the course of a season and led the team in field goals made with 128 in 1991.
“I walked in the gym and knew right away that he was Cal Ferguson’s son,” said Mike Backus, who stops by the Statesboro gym every now and then to catch up with head coach Lee Hill.
Backus took Ferguson under his wing on the side, teaching him more about confidence and work ethic as Hill groomed his on-the-court game.
“(Backus) would come over, sit right here and tell me what I’m doing wrong, be on me all the time,” said Ferguson. “It was hard to take it, but I took it anyway to try and make me a better person.”
It was the tough love that Eric needed. Calvester and Eric’s mom separated some time ago, and Cal has been playing ball in South America for almost a decade now.
“It’s kinda hard,” said Eric. “I’m doing it just with my mom, but then again my mom is like my father, too. She’s out there supporting me.”
Eric said he and Cal still talk, as one tells the other about their respective basketball lifestyles.
“He always tells me to play with heart,” said Eric. “Just go out there and give it all. At Georgia Southern, he told me that he couldn’t even dunk as a freshman. He worked hard, just to be able to dunk. He tells me never to give up when it gets hard. Coaches are going to be on me because they see something good in me.”
Eric began playing basketball at the age of four. He began being competitive at birth.
“It runs through the family,” he said. “Losing is not in my blood. I’m not even able to think about losing.”
Like it or not, losing has been a part of Ferguson’s senior season. Midway through the year, the Devils were not only losing games, they were losing players. Six members of the team were dismissed for rules violations, leaving Ferguson as one of just two seniors.
“It’s a tough process,” Ferguson said. “Always having to be on the younger guys and be telling them what to do. It’s kind of like a challenge for me, too. I wasn’t used to it with the other seniors starting. Now I have to keep them up and be like a big brother to them.”
With Backus giving off-the-court lessons and Hill molding Ferguson’s game on the court, there was still one thing left for Eric to do — grow.
The senior has sprouted seven inches since his rookie campaign, and Backus still believes he has more growing to do.
“I coached his daddy,” explained Backus. “What’s encouraging was that his daddy is 7-feet tall. I knew there was a growth spurt coming.”
At 175 pounds, Ferguson has morphed into the new-age player — a deadly guard in a forwards body. His inside-out game leaves defenses baffled as to whether to chase him around the perimeter or put a big body on him down low. It’s believed he may be the first Blue Devil to score 40 points in a game in almost 20 years.
“I think he’s more talented than his daddy,” said Backus.
He may be right. Ferguson has garnered interest from schools all over the place — Illinois, North Florida, South Carolina State, Campbell and plenty more Ferguson couldn’t remember off the top of his head.
“There’s one thing that he has that you can’t coach or teach — the ability to score,” added Backus. “His father had it. He has it. He can absolutely finish with the basketball in his hands I think his better days are ahead of him.”
Ferguson and Statesboro (12-10) will try to avenge a loss to cross-county rival Portal tonight at Southeast Bulloch. The game is sold out.
“It was a tough loss because we didn’t play with pride at all,” said Ferguson of Statesboro’s 55-52 loss to PHS (23-1) in Round One. “It was kinda tough knowing that I’m supposed to carry the team and I didn’t do anything. All I know is (tonight) — it’s on.”
Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
