I can certainly understand the feeling. The night before my injury (that was essentially and ironically career-ending anyways), I told the coach that was recruiting me hardest that I didn't want to play.

 

Too many of my friends play college sports now (at smaller schools) and would prefer to go to a different school and focus more on academics, but they don't want to disappoint their parents. Luckily for me, I have two younger brothers- since I quit, now my parents can try to vicariously experience tremendous athletic success through them

 

Probably 99% percent of all these kids that play basketball 12 months out of the year(AAU,etc) will go to a very small college either in Kentucky or elsewhere, when like you they would much rather go to a UK or UC,etc. Have always thought that just because of the sheer number of players on a baseball or football squad that your chances of going to a major college are far greater if you were to focus on one of those sports just 6 months out of a year than basketball for 12, your lucky if 1 player on a squad of 10 in basketball even goes to a small college

Probably 99% percent of all these kids that play basketball 12 months out of the year(AAU,etc) will go to a very small college either in Kentucky or elsewhere, when like you they would much rather go to a UK or UC,etc. Have always thought that just because of the sheer number of players on a baseball or football squad that your chances of going to a major college are far greater if you were to focus on one of those sports just 6 months out of a year than basketball for 12, your lucky if 1 player on a squad of 10 in basketball even goes to a small college

 

I remember someone telling me once that the chances of a high school player getting a scholarship was very slim and at that time only one out of one hundred received financial aid for playing college basketball. I wonder if the ratio has changed in recent years. I know a lot of kids go to college and play ball but not many small colleges give financial aid anymore for sports.

I am very good friends with the Ferguson's. Those who are trying to make it look like Dale and Sheila are in the wrong...are wrong. Don't criticize someone until you have walked in their shoes. According to Dale he has always let his kids choose their hobbies, sports, etc., but whatever they chose he encouraged them to give it 110%. Dale said that he spent close to 20,000 on Jonathans camps, aau excursions, and nationwide trips for summer ball all beng justified in his mind by the fact that they would get Jonathan a free college ed. He says they are issues other than being burned out that caused him to turn agaisnt the game and he could sense it for last two years and knew he didnt enjoy playing in high school and when he would ask him are you planning on going on to college and playing he would get a solid YES! Then with 2-3 weeks left in the season he finds out he isnt going to go on and play....I would say anyone on here would be shocked. Dale was more heartbroken over the decieving than the not playing. As far as affecting their relationship....not in the least. They have been traveling all over hunting and fishing.

 

OH!! By the way i passed up the chance to play college sports also and didnt realize I regretted it for about ten years!

I've heard rumors that a girl friend has a lot to do with his decision as well. Any truth to that?

I am very good friends with the Ferguson's. Those who are trying to make it look like Dale and Sheila are in the wrong...are wrong. Don't criticize someone until you have walked in their shoes. According to Dale he has always let his kids choose their hobbies, sports, etc., but whatever they chose he encouraged them to give it 110%. Dale said that he spent close to 20,000 on Jonathans camps, aau excursions, and nationwide trips for summer ball all beng justified in his mind by the fact that they would get Jonathan a free college ed. He says they are issues other than being burned out that caused him to turn agaisnt the game and he could sense it for last two years and knew he didnt enjoy playing in high school and when he would ask him are you planning on going on to college and playing he would get a solid YES! Then with 2-3 weeks left in the season he finds out he isnt going to go on and play....I would say anyone on here would be shocked. Dale was more heartbroken over the decieving than the not playing. As far as affecting their relationship....not in the least. They have been traveling all over hunting and fishing.

 

OH!! By the way i passed up the chance to play college sports also and didnt realize I regretted it for about ten years!

 

In the Sunday Herald article Ferguson said he new for sure before the season started that this would be his last and that losses,etc. didn't bother him as much because of that mindset, surely his father knew this way before 2-3 weeks left in the season. On a side note,also knew someone talented in basketball on the middle school level who switched schools several times and whose parents spent thousands of dollars on camps, AAU,etc. and he quit basketball his junior season in high school and is now going to UK as a student only

In the Sunday Herald article Ferguson said he new for sure before the season started that this would be his last and that losses,etc. didn't bother him as much because of that mindset, surely his father knew this way before 2-3 weeks left in the season. On a side note,also knew someone talented in basketball on the middle school level who switched schools several times and whose parents spent thousands of dollars on camps, AAU,etc. and he quit basketball his junior season in high school and is now going to UK as a student only

 

Also in the Herald it said that Johnathan new that, it didn't say he shared that information with his father.

Also in the Herald it said that Johnathan new that, it didn't say he shared that information with his father.

 

:thumb:

I will personally miss seeing Jonathan play the game. Usually you will see a player perform then you will start to analyze his game and perhaps over analyze and find things or weaknesses in his game. Jonathan tended to show me something new in every game. He had an excellent shooting stroke and an extremely quick release. He was also fearless in the lane giving away 4-5 inches in the paint. Whether Jonathan ever touches a basketball again or not I firmly believe he will be remembered for years in Kentucky high school basketball circles. This Elliott County bunch was special and made basketball a lot of fun to watch.

I can certainly understand the feeling. The night before my injury (that was essentially and ironically career-ending anyways), I told the coach that was recruiting me hardest that I didn't want to play.

 

Too many of my friends play college sports now (at smaller schools) and would prefer to go to a different school and focus more on academics, but they don't want to disappoint their parents. Luckily for me, I have two younger brothers- since I quit, now my parents can try to vicariously experience tremendous athletic success through them

 

Unfortunately, I'm very aware of this scenario also, which is a shame. When my son decided to hang up his pads in college, I was actually relieved. Heck when he was trying to make up his mind, I actually encouraged him to hang up his pads (and I played college football). College academics are too demanding (if you are properly applying yourself), there are a lot of social and club activities that take a lot of time that you can't easily do if you play college sports and playing college football brings four more years of physical beating on your body that eventually you will have to deal with (like I am now with my knees). I actually probably regret playing more than I think I would have regretted not playing and I had a lot of success playing college football. But the time required to play college football prevented me from doing things and activities that I now wish I would have done. There are only so many hours in a day. If you want to enjoy and explore other activities, you have to cut out something. Seems to me this kid is making a very mature decision. If he looks back in 10 years and regrets not playing, it won't be the end of the world. Hopefully he will have used his free time to get better grades and prepare him to get a high paying job or to get involved in activities that he enjoyed or enabled him to grow as a person. If so, he shouldn't have many regrets.

I am very good friends with the Ferguson's. Those who are trying to make it look like Dale and Sheila are in the wrong...are wrong. Don't criticize someone until you have walked in their shoes. According to Dale he has always let his kids choose their hobbies, sports, etc., but whatever they chose he encouraged them to give it 110%. Dale said that he spent close to 20,000 on Jonathans camps, aau excursions, and nationwide trips for summer ball all beng justified in his mind by the fact that they would get Jonathan a free college ed. He says they are issues other than being burned out that caused him to turn agaisnt the game and he could sense it for last two years and knew he didnt enjoy playing in high school and when he would ask him are you planning on going on to college and playing he would get a solid YES! Then with 2-3 weeks left in the season he finds out he isnt going to go on and play....I would say anyone on here would be shocked. Dale was more heartbroken over the decieving than the not playing. As far as affecting their relationship....not in the least. They have been traveling all over hunting and fishing.

 

OH!! By the way i passed up the chance to play college sports also and didnt realize I regretted it for about ten years!

 

 

As a father, I'd be more disappointed if I felt the only reason my son was playing sports in college was because he wanted to save me some money or allow me to recoup the money I had spent on him in high school and middle school. Obviously the parents can afford to send him to college with out an athletic scholly because that's evidently what's going to happen.

As a father, I'd be more disappointed if I felt the only reason my son was playing sports in college was because he wanted to save me some money or allow me to recoup the money I had spent on him in high school and middle school. Obviously the parents can afford to send him to college with out an athletic scholly because that's evidently what's going to happen.

 

My thoughts exactly!! :thumb:

Where's Paul Harvey with the rest of the story?

I'll throw out a couple of possibilities:

1. The girl has him whipped. That's been stated on here and unfortunately 18 year old boys make short term decisions based on girlfriends, truck payments, etc. all the time. Sometimes it's the right decision, sometimes it's not. Ferg won't know until about 8 years down the road if this is the right decision or not.

2. He didn't get the offers he and a lot of the people around him thought he would.

3. He doesn't feel comfortable going far away from Elliott Co. There have been a lot of kids who won't go far away OR when they do, come right back home. Happy Osborne has made a living on this type of kid at G-town.

4. He's telling the truth and really wants to pursue other things than basketball. I've known several big time college athletes who feel this way, but it's unusual for a high school kid to truly be burned out.

 

Whatever the reason, I wish the young man the best of luck. It was sure fun to watch him play.

 

I think it is probalby a little of all of the above. Ferg good luck in whatever you do in life.

Going from an Elliott County basketball experience or a Highlands or Trinity football experience with packed houses, buses and convoys of fans to road games, cannons, JumboTrons and the entire community all-in, to a small College experience can sometimes be a bit of a letdown. Not to knock Thomas More, Morehead, Centre, Union, Berea, Campbellsville, etc. etc. but whatever college Jonathan might have played for would have had a hard act to follow. I wish Jonathan the best and am sure he will be successful in whatever endeavor he tackles next.

Just my thoughts:

1. Don't criticize the parents unless you've talked to them personally about the situation. These were quotes in a paper, and for anyone who has ever been interviewed knows they don't put everything you say in the paper. It may be out of context.

2. As far as I know, Jonathan had hinted around that he may not play college basketball. A friend of mine spoke to Dale at a Basketball game early this season and that is what Dale said may happen. Might not have been a final decision, but it was certainly a possibility.

3. It is his decision. It is selfish for anyone to think that they know what is best for him. He may truely be burned out. He may be doing it for a girl, who knows but him and his family.

4. If it was over a girl I think it shows that he is burned out because it shows that he has realized that other things are more important to him than Basketball. I applaud his decision, because College sports is not something you can do half-heartedly. If it's not what you want to do, then you shouldn't do it. I wish Jonathan the best in what ever he wishes to do.

5. It would be disapointing for any parent, but you have to remember that you have to let your children live their lives.

 

 

Leatherneck that was a great point you made.

 

Guys it is just basketball. How sad would it be to go away from home, and spend most of your free time doing something you didn't completely want to do?

I wish Ferg well and I hope all things go well for him and that he has no regrets later in life.

 

I will say this....I hate to see such talent wasted. Whether it be burnout, a girl, whatever, there are whole lot of kids playing basketball wishing they had Ferg's talent and opportunities to play at the next level and receive a free education.

 

Like I said, I wish him well, I just hate to see talent wasted regardless of the reason.

 

He was, and is a very special player whose jumper will be sorely missed by some school somewhere.

 

Quite honestly, I don't think I would handle it well at all if my son was in a similar situation and quit. It may be wrong but it's the truth.