2023 Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - - Desmond Ferguson

 

THE GREATER LANSING AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

INDUCTION CEREMONY

DESMOND FERGUSON

August 10, 2023

By Chuck Krafft

I write this speech recap with great enthusiasm because I covered a number of Desmond Ferguson's events - - both in the summer Moneyball League that he created and when he coached Lansing Everett's Viking basketball team to two final four berths!  

Here are two of his biggest wins as an Everett Coach.  

The 2015 Quarterfinal where his team led by Trevor Manuel, Jamyrin Jackson and Deshae Doll (with solid contributions from everyone on the roster) was huge; the Vikings beat a team from Muskegon that featured Deyonta Davis, who played a season at Michigan State and moved on to the NBA.

https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2015/03/lansing-everett-vs-muskegon-boys.html

In 2016, after Trevor Manuel and Deshae Doll graduated, Jamyrin Jackson, the team led by hot-shooting Jamyrin Jackson as well as defensive demons LeAndre Wright and Nyreel Powell got back to the quarterfinals and beat Hudsonville to earn another trip to the Breslin Center.

https://thebleacherdenizen.blogspot.com/2016/03/lansing-everett-vs-hudsonville-boys.html

It was so much fun to follow these Viking teams where everyone bought into defending fiercely and playing for the team!  Kudos to the coach!!

Coach Ferguson also played for Lansing Everett, where he was All-State as a senior.  He also played on a really successful University of Detroit team where his stellar three point shooting helped lead the Titans to two berths in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

He played professional basketball in a number of different countries and played in the NBA with the Portland Trailblazers.  

He started the popular Moneyball ProAm Basketball League which has entertained Lansing residents for well over ten years.  He runs a free basketball clinic for Lansing's young athletes.  He runs the successful Moneyball Sportswear Company as well.

Mr. Ferguson thanked the Hall of Fame Committee for his induction and proceeded to tell about his basketball journey that was supported by his mother, who encouraged all his dreams and goals.  His mom was a single parent, but he had a lot of coaches who stepped into the father role and helped guide him to be the man he is today.  He specifically mentioned Coaches Lonnie Marshal and Johnny Jones, who coached him at Everett.

He came back to his Alma Mater to coach.  Everett had been down in basketball with a 10-72 record during the previous five years.  He was able to get some talented players to buy into playing for the team and playing ferocious defense at all times.  

He thanked Diego Robinson, who was a four year varsity player when he coached the Vikings.  He also gave a shout out to his wife, Cece.

His final point was that it is important for us all to encourage young people and support them as they pursue their dreams (and to stop by Moneyball Sportwear to pick up some athletic gear!)

For those of you who would like to read about all the acceptance speeches, here is a log of the whole ceremony!

https://lansingcivicevents.blogspot.com/2023/08/2023-greater-lansing-area-sports-hall_84.html