Fishburne PG Hoops Gets Covered- FMS In The News
Article from the Virginia News Leader, Thursday, August 12, 2009
Fishburne Military School explores postgraduate hoops program
by Chris Lassiter • Sports Writer
WAYNESBORO — Fishburne Military School might soon be ordering some bigger bed frames.
According to school superintendent Col. Roy Zinser, the school is looking at implementing a postgraduate basketball team as early as this fall.
“It’s not a sure thing,” Zinser said, “but we’re in serious exploration of it.”
If a postgraduate team is fielded this year, Zinser is looking to bring in 12 to 14 college-caliber student-athletes to compete against the state’s other postgraduate programs and college junior varsity teams.
There are three postgraduate programs in Virginia, at Fork Union Military Academy, Hargrave Military Academy and Massanutten Military Academy.
Fishburne also has been in coaching negotiations with Ed Huckaby, a former college assistant at Wright State University and Bethel High School in Hampton. Huckaby also coaches with the famed Boo Williams AAU program.
Zinser said the school already has four or five players committed to the possible postgrad team, and Fishburne is expecting anywhere from 40 to 50 athletes at tryouts Sunday.
“There’s plenty of interest here,” Zinser said.
The superintendent sees the postgraduate program as a win-win situation for the school.
“First, it allows Fishburne to continue to help kids,” Zinser said. “Having a postgraduate school is also great publicity for the school.”
Local athletes benefit from postgrads
After a successful basketball career at Waynesboro High School, Nick Gore enrolled in The Hill School in Pennsylvania last season to expand his college options.
After leading The Hill School at 19 points a game last season, Gore secured a Division I basketball scholarship to Virginia Military Institute.
Local athletes always have benefited from postgraduate programs. But until now, the athletes have never been able to pursue that avenue locally.
In 2001, former Waynesboro Little Giant hoop star Daniel Freeman went to Fork Union. Freeman eventually signed with James Madison University where he had a successful playing career with the Dukes.
In 1994, former Little Giant Pedro Edison went to Hargrave for football. He ended up signing with Virginia Tech, transferring to East Tennessee State, and signing a free agent NFL contract with the Baltimore Ravens during their 2000 Super Bowl season.
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Zinser is hoping for similar success stories at Fishburne.
“There are some kids who really have aspirations to play at the college level,” Zinser said. “And they need to come here for whatever reason; to get bigger and faster or their SAT scores up a little bit.”
Major Competition
With the state’s three other postgraduate basketball programs relatively close to the school, Zinser said having schools to compete against was another positive factor in the decision-making process.
The superintendent said the other military schools have been supportive in the process. Zinser also knows he’ll have to put together a strong program to be competitive with schools like Hargrave and Fork Union.
“We’re looking at a high quality of basketball,” Zinser said. “We’re all competitive. We’d like to beat Fork Union and Hargrave this year, but we’ve got to grow into that.”
A coaching legend, Fork Union coach Fletcher Arritt has sent more than 150 student-athletes on to Division I basketball programs. In 1998, Hargrave forward Korleone Young was the selected in the second round of the NBA draft directly out of the school.
Last season, Hargrave had athletes sign with North Carolina State University, Indiana University, University of Massachusetts and a host of other Division I schools.
Current NBA players Joe Alexander, Josh Howard, Marrese Speights and David West also went to Hargrave.
Zinser is confident Fishburne can get to that point, if not this year, then next. The determining factor, according to the superintendent, is the initial funding for the program.
“If it doesn’t get done this year,” Zinser said, “it will for sure be done by next year.”
In 1994, former Little Giant Pedro Edison went to Hargrave for football. He ended up signing with Virginia Tech, transferring to East Tennessee State, and signing a free agent NFL contract with the Baltimore Ravens during their 2000 Super Bowl season.
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Zinser is hoping for similar success stories at Fishburne.
“There are some kids who really have aspirations to play at the college level,” Zinser said. “And they need to come here for whatever reason; to get bigger and faster or their SAT scores up a little bit.”
Major Competition
With the state’s three other postgraduate basketball programs relatively close to the school, Zinser said having schools to compete against was another positive factor in the decision-making process.
The superintendent said the other military schools have been supportive in the process. Zinser also knows he’ll have to put together a strong program to be competitive with schools like Hargrave and Fork Union.
“We’re looking at a high quality of basketball,” Zinser said. “We’re all competitive. We’d like to beat Fork Union and Hargrave this year, but we’ve got to grow into that.”
A coaching legend, Fork Union coach Fletcher Arritt has sent more than 150 student-athletes on to Division I basketball programs. In 1998, Hargrave forward Korleone Young was the selected in the second round of the NBA draft directly out of the school.
Last season, Hargrave had athletes sign with North Carolina State University, Indiana University, University of Massachusetts and a host of other Division I schools.
Current NBA players Joe Alexander, Josh Howard, Marrese Speights and David West also went to Hargrave.
Zinser is confident Fishburne can get to that point, if not this year, then next. The determining factor, according to the superintendent, is the initial funding for the program.
“If it doesn’t get done this year,” Zinser said, “it will for sure be done by next year.”
