Chico Fletcher
Encyclopedia
Chico Fletcher is a former American
basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at Arkansas State University
. Between 1996–97 and 1999–2000, Fletcher recorded 893 assists
, which at the time of his graduation was the 11th highest total in NCAA Division I history. He was twice named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
, and as a junior
he led the Red Wolves to their first ever NCAA Tournament
appearance.
Fletcher is 5'6" tall, weighs 170 pounds and played the point guard
position. A native of Osceola, Arkansas
, he was recruited by Arkansas State to play for their football team
. He redshirted
his true freshman
football season in 1996 due to a left shoulder injury, but then decided to try out for the men's basketball team as a walk-on. He made the team, and by midway through the 1996–97 season Fletcher had become a key player. Fletcher started the final 20 games of the regular season and led the Sun Belt Conference
with a 6.3 assist-per-game average.
As a sophomore
the following season, Fletcher once again led the conference in assists as the Red Wolves compiled a 20–9 record, which was their first 20-win season in seven years. He was named all-conference as well as the Sun Belt Player of the Year. In 1998–99
, his junior year, Fletcher's 17.0 points per game led the team and his 8.3 assists per game was the second best average in the nation behind Doug Gottlieb
's 8.9. He also recorded 250 total assists during the season, and on November 23, 1998 had 17 in a game against TCU. Both of these totals still stand as school records. In the Sun Belt Tournament's championship game against Western Kentucky
, Fletcher scored 21 points, dished out eight assists, recorded three rebounds and had two steals in the win. He was named the Tournament MVP as Arkansas State gained the automatic bid into the 1999 NCAA Tournament
for the school's first ever appearance. Although they would lost to Utah
in the first round, Fletcher had earned his second consecutive Sun Belt Player of the Year award. In Fletcher's final season, he once again averaged 8.3 assists per game, which was the third best average in Division I. The Red Wolves finished with a 10–18 record, however, and so he did not repeat the conference player of the year for an unprecedented third consecutive season.
Fletcher was also passed up during the 2000 NBA Draft
, but he did manage to sign with the Sioux Falls Skyforce
of the Continental Basketball Association
. He played for the one season with the team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player who is best known for his collegiate career at Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
. Between 1996–97 and 1999–2000, Fletcher recorded 893 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
, which at the time of his graduation was the 11th highest total in NCAA Division I history. He was twice named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the most outstanding men's basketball player in the Sun Belt Conference. The award was first given following the 1976–77 season...
, and as a 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...
he led the Red Wolves to their first ever NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearance.
Fletcher is 5'6" tall, weighs 170 pounds and played the point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
position. A native of Osceola, Arkansas
Osceola, Arkansas
-Notable natives & residents:* Bill Alexander, U.S. Representative from First Congressional District, 1969–1993* David Barrett, New York Jets cornerback* Maurice Carthon, former NFL and USFL player and NFL assistant coach...
, he was recruited by Arkansas State to play for their football team
Arkansas State Red Wolves football
The Arkansas State Red Wolves football team represents Arkansas State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition. The team was originally founded in 1911, and, since 2001, Arkansas State has competed as a member of the...
. He redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his true 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...
football season in 1996 due to a left shoulder injury, but then decided to try out for the men's basketball team as a walk-on. He made the team, and by midway through the 1996–97 season Fletcher had become a key player. Fletcher started the final 20 games of the regular season and led the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
with a 6.3 assist-per-game average.
As a 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...
the following season, Fletcher once again led the conference in assists as the Red Wolves compiled a 20–9 record, which was their first 20-win season in seven years. He was named all-conference as well as the Sun Belt Player of the Year. In 1998–99
1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season concluded in the 64-team 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament whose finals were held at Tropicana Field in . The Connecticut Huskies earned their first national championship by defeating the Duke Blue Devils 77–74 on March 29, 1999...
, his junior year, Fletcher's 17.0 points per game led the team and his 8.3 assists per game was the second best average in the nation behind Doug Gottlieb
Doug Gottlieb
Douglas Michael Gottlieb is a former NCAA collegiate basketball player for the University of Notre Dame and Oklahoma State University, and the Russian Basketball Super League...
's 8.9. He also recorded 250 total assists during the season, and on November 23, 1998 had 17 in a game against TCU. Both of these totals still stand as school records. In the Sun Belt Tournament's championship game against Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents WKU in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Hilltoppers currently compete in the Sun Belt Conference. The team's most recent appearance in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was in 2009...
, Fletcher scored 21 points, dished out eight assists, recorded three rebounds and had two steals in the win. He was named the Tournament MVP as Arkansas State gained the automatic bid into the 1999 NCAA Tournament
1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....
for the school's first ever appearance. Although they would lost to Utah
Utah Utes men's basketball
The University of Utah Utes have consistently been one of the most successful basketball programs in the NCAA. They are currently an NCAA Division I program that plays in the Pacific-12 Conference. The school has made the NCAA Tournament 26 times, which ranks 16th in NCAA history and 3rd behind...
in the first round, Fletcher had earned his second consecutive Sun Belt Player of the Year award. In Fletcher's final season, he once again averaged 8.3 assists per game, which was the third best average in Division I. The Red Wolves finished with a 10–18 record, however, and so he did not repeat the conference player of the year for an unprecedented third consecutive season.
Fletcher was also passed up during the 2000 NBA Draft
2000 NBA Draft
The 2000 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2000 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Until 2011, it was the last draft held at the home arena of an NBA team; the following and subsequent drafts have all taken place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. This draft is...
, but he did manage to sign with 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 Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
. He played for the one season with the team.