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Coastal Carolina graduate Chad Ferguson didn't waste time in taking steps to get his basketball career to the professional level after school. After plenty of stops along the way, Ferguson leaves Wednesday for Mexico, where he will play for Tepic Nayarit Coras in the CIBA Copa basketball league. (NOTE: Myrtle Beach High graduate Akeem Hemingway will be playing in the same league this spring.)
In short, Ferguson played in several showcase events, did a photo shoot with the Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade and played for a couple minor league teams in the United States before heading to Mexico over this past Christmas and earning a professional job in Mexico: This all after graduating from Coastal in 2008 up until now.
Ferguson took the time to answer a Q&A with me recently:
Q | Tell me a little bit about the stops you made from when you graduated Coastal Carolina up until now.
Chad | In may 2008 after graduation commencement I started my pro basketball travels. I played in the VCU Seniors Pro International Exposure Camp. I played very well, averaging 15 [points per game and over 7 [rebounds per game]. As soon as the camp was over, I headed to Des Moines, Iowa, for training camp with Athletes in Action Russia Tour Team. We arrived in Moscow and traveled throughout southern Russia. It was a very good experience for myself and also for basketball. We played against club and pro teams throughout our tour. I received all-tournament honors in Veronish Russia with averages of 19 ppg and 9 rpg. After I got back from Russia in late June I went to Miami for a workout with Maccabi-Haifa (a pro team from Israeli's top league). I got connected with [that] opportunity by doing a photo shoot with Dwyane Wade while he was in Las Vegas with the Olympic team. (The photo was published by Dime Magazine, and shows me guarding Dwyane Wade while he explains his blow-by first step move). Then, after I moved to San Diego I joined the Ventura Jets from the WCBL (West Coast Basketball League). I received first-team all rookie honors after the season/playoffs with averages of 18 ppg and 10 rpg. After that season I had an opportunity to go to Mexico to play, but unfortunately the swine flu outbreak was very bad out there and they canceled the league due to the epidemic. After leaving Coastal, I basically had to prove myself again to everyone because unfortunately my college career didn't go as well as I wanted. My stats weren't as impressive so I had to go display myself to everyone basically. So I was stuck in San Diego being trained by Berry Randle with my best friend Lorrenzo Wade, who was preparing for the NBA Draft. Then, earlier this season I played four games with the San Diego Surf of the ABA Pro League. During my short stint with the Surf I finally got the call and opportunity I was waiting for. I got the call to play in the pro tourney down in Mexico during Christmas time in front of the scouts and teams for CIBA Copa. the top pro league down there. I was playing for Xalisco. I took advantage of the opportunity by winning the tourney championship and playing very well, including a 27-point outing in the championship game against the host team, Ruiz. My team only had two Americans - Richie Williams, a point guard from San Diego State the last four years and myself. I averaged over 18 ppg and 12 rpg during the seven games we played. So, after that opportunity it brought me the chance now to play in CIBA Copa this upcoming season with Tepic Nayarit Coras.
Q | Was there ever a point in all your journeys that you considered giving up playing pro ball? If so, how close did you get?
Chad | Throughout this journey I have experienced many ups and downs. It's like a constant flow of people telling you they can do this and that or they know this person who knows this guy. It's very hard on your mentals. I've learned that all I can control is how hard I work and train and when that opportunity comes to take advantage and don't hold back. If it wasn't for my Pops and Berry Randle pushing me and telling me not to give up and that it would work out I might have hung up the basketball shoes. It was very hard to go to the gym every day and early in the mornings on the weekend and doing the same thing everyday and just waiting for your phone to ring and be told you are wanted somewhere. I've learned on this journey that brought me many open doors as well as shut doors that you can't give up and got to be patient for the right situation and think positive, which is hard to do, honestly.
Q | You've mentioned how much Berry Randle has helped you. Talk a little bit about his impact on your career.
Chad | Berry Randle has many connects in leagues after [the] long playing experience professionally he had himself as a player. Berry always believed in me and knew I would do well down there, but it was hard to just get through the door and get my name out there. So as soon as I got the opportunity finally to go [to Mexico] I knew this was it and he had me prepared to show them I belong. After we won the championship and my performance, I felt like all the hard work and days in the gym we trained paid off finally for this opportunity. My contract will be for the season and I believe our first game is March 12 against Mazaltan. The contract also takes care of my living arrangements and expenses. I expect to have a good season, make the playoffs and continue my basketball career in Mexico and other leagues in Europe.
Q | Having played the tournament in Mexico and getting ready to head there, is life vastly different down there?
Chad | Life is definitely different down there but nothing too extremely different. All the places I have been to and played are different and unique. You tend to like some things better and [disapprove] of others, but you learn to respect how things are and adjust to them. I really enjoy traveling and going to places totally different and that's why I feel like I've always been able to play anywhere. I believe it even starts from me - a West Coast kid (he's from Las Vegas) choosing to go to college at Coastal Carolina University all the way across the country. I went from Las Vegas to Myrtle Beach. Even that was a big difference of life I was used to.
Q | A lot of guys talk about the U.S. minor leagues as a stepping stone to get overseas. Was that the case for you? And how big of a role did those play for you?
Chad | I believe the minor leagues of basketball here in the U.S are stepping stones in a lot of players' professional careers. I feel like these leagues, however, really didn't have a big role on my career because of the short stints I had with the ABA San Diego Surf only playing a few games before my Mexico opportunity arrived. Playing in the WCBL with the Ventura Jets and also the ABA San Diego Surf did connect me with people and give me the opportunity to play and stay in shape - that I'm thankful for.
Q | What were some of the things you learned and accomplished at Coastal that are helping you basketball-wise and/or in life? And are there any specific memories that stuck out for you while playing there?
Chad | Playing for Coastal Carolina University those four years were great and something I will never forget or take back ever. I learned many basketball and life lessons throughout my career at Coastal. I also believe that comes from also playing for three different head coaches in my four years. Yes, you can assume that was pretty hard to do as a player and it was and also had its moments on individuals and the team as a whole. At the same time, I can say I played for and learned from three great coaches in Pete Strickland, who recruited me and brought me to Coastal and taught me many things throughout my freshman year and someone who I still communicate with to this day and throughout my pro basketball journey. Then Buzz Peterson came to Coastal and turned it up for us as we had a great season my sophomore year that was a lot of fun as we won 20 games and came within one point and 7 seconds away from the NCAA tournament. Buzz matured me as a basketball player and gave us so much wisdom and showed us to be accountable as men for how we act. I still remember we used to have a quote of the day before every practice that we would have to memorized that would combine life and basketball together. Then came in Cliff Ellis for my senior year, who brought so much knowledge, experience and success at every school he's been. Coach Ellis is real big on being mentally prepared for the games, between walking through every situation and hours of film sessions, which really helped us. I remember a funny moment in practice my senior year [when] we [were] preparing for a game and Coach Ellis was like, "I can prepare you but, damn ya'll got the hard part. You guys gotta go out there run and put the ball in the bucket." Also the only coach that was there for all four of my years was Head Assistant Coach Jamie Kachmarik and he developed my game a lot through all the practices and workouts we had in those years and many conversations we've had about life and basketball. He was a big reason why I chose Coastal Carolina University in my recruiting process. I feel like as I go through my career and my life I see myself taking things from all three of them and applying it to myself. My favorite part about my experience at Coastal was my teammates and how close we all were throughout my four years and how many of us still talk to this day with each other.
Q | What is the ultimate goal right now? I know some guys look at playing outside of the U.S. as a ladder-type situation. Is your plan to wind up elsewhere after Mexico? Just tell me what your overall hopes and plans are in the hoops world.
Chad | My ultimate goal right now is to be successful down in Mexico and play well in the CIBA Copa and also the LNBP (Latin National Basketball Premier) next season when that starts. I also wanna get over to Europe and play in the top leagues over there. I wanna keep the ball bouncing as long as I can and make this a good career when its all said and done.
Above: Coastal Carolina alum Chad Ferguson dunks during a dunk contest he competed in while in Russia.
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