Jazzmarr Ferguson, sophomore guard for the IUS men’s basketball team, is one of those special players that lift the play of his teammates.
Ferguson grew up in the west end of Louisville. He helped take a struggling Moore High School basketball program that won six games his freshman year and turned them into a 20-win team by the time he left for IU Southeast.
Ferguson joined the list of Kentucky’s elite basketball players in 2007 when he was named All-State and scored more than 1,000 points.
Ferguson said he credits much of his success to Shedrick Jones, an assistant men’s basketball coach at Moore.
“He helped me to become a leader,” Ferguson said. “I always felt like I was, but [Jones] molded me.”
Ferguson found a mentor off of the basketball court as well. Michael Shoulders was the coordinator of a minority group at Moore called Men of Quality.
“The group is for young guys that want to do something positive and get an education,” Ferguson said. “It is for guys who have had a rough start, but want to do good for themselves and others.”
While involved with Men of Quality Ferguson also worked with kids at local summer camps.
“I enjoy working with kids, which is why I would like to get a degree in special education,” Ferguson said.
While Ferguson has an idea of what he’s going to do after basketball, he is only in his second season playing at IU Southeast and is currently the team’s leading scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game.
Ferguson, known just as well for his defensive play, has accrued 38 steals in 21 games this season.
Ferguson has been named KIAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week three times this season.
Junior guard, DeJon Gary, Ferguson’s teammate and roommate, had nothing but positive things to say about Ferguson.
“There isn’t a cooler person than Jazz,” Gary said. “He’s got a lot of heart. Last year, for example, he didn’t start because he was only a freshman, but he played more minutes than half the starters.”
By HUNTER EMBRY
Staff Writer
ahembry@ius.edu