Anwar Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Anwar Ferguson is a Bahamian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sioux Falls Skyforce
in the NBA Development League
. He has previously played in Iran
, Georgia
and Mexico
prior to his latest stint in the D-League.
, Bahamas, and his father, Clement, is a reverend. He moved the United States during his youth and attended Coakley High School in Texas
, from which he graduated in 2000. In basketball, he led the team in rebounds and blocked shots and was named to the conference's all-defensive team. Ferguson then enrolled at Lee College
, a community college
located in Baytown, Texas
. During his freshman
season he averaged 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, but he did record a 10-block game in the playoffs. The next year, Ferguson's sophomore
year, he averaged 6.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game, and his 154 blocks that season set a new school record. In a game against Pensacola State College
he recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks.
After his community college career, Ferguson went on to play at the University of Houston
for the Cougars
. He played in 28 games and started 14 of them in his junior
year while aeraging only 2.0 points per game. However, he did record a total of 49 blocks while averaging 1.8 per game, which placed him second in Conference USA
in both statistical categories. Ferguson's best collegiate season came when he was a senior
in 2003–04
. He moved into the starting lineup permanently and averaged a much-improved 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and a Division I-leading 4.11 blocks per game. He blocked 111 total shots that season, which topped Conference USA and ranked third nationally. In just two seasons at Houston, Ferguson recorded 160 blocks, which at the time of his graduation ranked him fifth in school history.
. He did play on several professional and semi-professional basketball summer league teams in 2004, including the Philadelphia 76ers
' squad in the Minneapolis league. The closest he came to making an NBA
team's final regular season roster was in the fall of 2004, when the Sacramento Kings
waived him at the end of October just before the season began.
His first post-college professional playing time occurred in June 2005 when the Arkansas ArchAngels
of the World Basketball Association
(WBA) signed him for several games. He played in five games and averaged 6.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game. The following fall he was briefly on the Florida Flame
in the NBA Development League
before being waived. The WBA's Rome Gladiators
signed him in 2006 and it was with them that he won regular season and postseason WBA championships. Another failed stint on the Sacramento Kings' preseason training camp roster prior to the season forced him to look elsewhere. Ferguson signed with Shahrdari Gorgan BC
of the Iranian Basketball Super League
for the 2006–07 season, followed by one year playing for Energy Invest Rustavi
of the Georgian Super Liga
in 2007–08. With Rustavi, Ferguson was named to the Eurobasket.com
Georgian League All-Imports Team. In 2008–09 he played for Correcaminos UAT Victoria in Mexico's Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
.
Ferguson was unable to play basketball in 2009–10 because he had green card issues that he needed to sort out. Then, in November 2010, the Sioux Falls Skyforce
of the NBA Development League signed him.
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Sioux Falls Skyforce is a professional basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. They are based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The team plays at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Skyforce began in the CBA in 1989...
in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. He has previously played in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
prior to his latest stint in the D-League.
Early life and college career
Ferguson was born in ExumaExuma
Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands . The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi in length and joined to another island, Little Exuma by a small bridge. The capital and largest city in the district is George Town , founded 1793 and located on Great...
, Bahamas, and his father, Clement, is a reverend. He moved the United States during his youth and attended Coakley High School in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, from which he graduated in 2000. In basketball, he led the team in rebounds and blocked shots and was named to the conference's all-defensive team. Ferguson then enrolled at Lee College
Lee College
Lee College is a comprehensive community college located in Baytown, Texas, approximately east of Houston, Texas.Lee College's main campus occupies landscaped near downtown Baytown and maintains extension campuses throughout its service area...
, a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
located in Baytown, Texas
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
. During his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
season he averaged 1.6 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, but he did record a 10-block game in the playoffs. The next year, Ferguson's sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
year, he averaged 6.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game, and his 154 blocks that season set a new school record. In a game against Pensacola State College
Pensacola State College
Pensacola State College, formerly known as Pensacola Junior College, is a public state college in Pensacola, Florida, and a member institution of the Florida College System....
he recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks.
After his community college career, Ferguson went on to play at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
for the Cougars
Houston Cougars men's basketball
The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in Houston, Texas in U.S. NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The university is a member of Conference USA...
. He played in 28 games and started 14 of them in his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year while aeraging only 2.0 points per game. However, he did record a total of 49 blocks while averaging 1.8 per game, which placed him second in Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
in both statistical categories. Ferguson's best collegiate season came when he was a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 2003–04
2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2003, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 5, 2004 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas...
. He moved into the starting lineup permanently and averaged a much-improved 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and a Division I-leading 4.11 blocks per game. He blocked 111 total shots that season, which topped Conference USA and ranked third nationally. In just two seasons at Houston, Ferguson recorded 160 blocks, which at the time of his graduation ranked him fifth in school history.
Professional career
Ferguson was not selected in the 2004 NBA Draft2004 NBA Draft
The 2004 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2004 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm . In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible...
. He did play on several professional and semi-professional basketball summer league teams in 2004, including the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
' squad in the Minneapolis league. The closest he came to making an NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
team's final regular season roster was in the fall of 2004, when the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
waived him at the end of October just before the season began.
His first post-college professional playing time occurred in June 2005 when the Arkansas ArchAngels
Arkansas ArchAngels
The Arkansas ArchAngels are a team in the World Basketball Association, they began playing in the 2005 season.-2005 season:Despite being overshadowed by the highly successful Arkansas RimRockers, the ArchAngels had a decent first season, and received good press coverage. Attendance hung around...
of the World Basketball Association
World Basketball Association
The World Basketball Association, often abbreviated to the WBA, is a professional men's spring basketball league in the United States.-History:The WBA was conceived in 2004, with seven teams scheduled to play...
(WBA) signed him for several games. He played in five games and averaged 6.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game. The following fall he was briefly on the Florida Flame
Florida Flame
The Florida Flame were a NBA Development League team based in Fort Myers, Florida. Its logo represents a basketball on fire moving at high speed....
in the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
before being waived. The WBA's Rome Gladiators
Rome Gladiators
The Rome Gladiators, based in Rome, Georgia, USA are a franchise in the World Basketball Association. They play at the Winthrop-King Centre at Shorter College.-2004:...
signed him in 2006 and it was with them that he won regular season and postseason WBA championships. Another failed stint on the Sacramento Kings' preseason training camp roster prior to the season forced him to look elsewhere. Ferguson signed with Shahrdari Gorgan BC
Shahrdari Gorgan BC
Shahrdari Gorgan Basketball Club is an Iranian basketball club based in Gorgan, Iran. They compete in the Iranian Basketball Super League.-Roster:-Notable former players:-External links:**...
of the Iranian Basketball Super League
Iranian Basketball Super League
The Iranian Basketball Super League is a professional basketball league in Iran founded in 1998.-2011–12 teams:*Azad University Tehran*Bank Saman Tehran*Foolad Mahan Isfahan*Hamyari Shahrdari Zanjan*Jahesh Tarabar Qom*Louleh a.s Shiraz*Mahram Tehran...
for the 2006–07 season, followed by one year playing for Energy Invest Rustavi
Energy Invest Rustavi
Energy Invest Rustavi is the Georgian professional basketball club, that is based in Rustavi, Georgia. The club competes in the Georgian Super Liga....
of the Georgian Super Liga
Georgian Super Liga
The Georgian Super Liga, in English, Georgian Super League, also known as the Georgian Highest League, is the highest professional basketball league in Georgia.-Teams:* BC Armia* Dinamo Tbilisi* Energy Invest Rustavi* GSAU Tbilisi...
in 2007–08. With Rustavi, Ferguson was named to the Eurobasket.com
Eurobasket.com
Eurobasket.com and its related web sites are a group of global basketball websites covering 242 basketball leagues in 153 countries.The site was opened in March 1997...
Georgian League All-Imports Team. In 2008–09 he played for Correcaminos UAT Victoria in Mexico's Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
The Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional is the top professional basketball league in Mexico. The league was founded in 2000 with 11 teams, expanding to 24 as of 2008...
.
Ferguson was unable to play basketball in 2009–10 because he had green card issues that he needed to sort out. Then, in November 2010, the Sioux Falls Skyforce
Sioux Falls Skyforce
The Sioux Falls Skyforce is a professional basketball team that plays in the NBA Development League. They are based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. The team plays at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Skyforce began in the CBA in 1989...
of the NBA Development League signed him.