Former Belleville Althoff basketball standout Tarkus Ferguson is having a stellar college career as a member of the University of Illinois-Chicago Flames.
The Flames are currently 13-12 and are contending in the Horizon League going into tonight’s matchup with Cleveland State. In their previous matchup, Ferguson had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in a 75-56 Flames victory.
Currently, the 6’4” Ferguson is averaging 15 points a game while grabbing 6.7 rebounds and handing out 5.0 assists a game as one of the top all-around guards in the league.
While at Althoff, Ferguson was a big part of one of the area’s best high school teams we’ve seen in recent years as the Crusaders finished 32-2 and defeated New Lennox Providence 62-37 for the Illinois Class 3A state championship in March of 2016.
Joining Ferguson on that talented team of stars were top two-sport athletes, such as Jordan Goodwin (SLU basketball), C.J. Coldon (Wyoming football), Edwyn Brown (Eastern Illinois football), Keenan Young (Jackson State), Marvin Bateman (Greenville basketball), Bryson Strong (SIU football) and Brendon Gooch (SIU basketball).
After looking over numerous scholarship offers from football programs as a wide receiver, Ferguson chose to play basketball at UIC, and it seems to be working out just fine for him. He chose coach Steve McClain’s program because of his up-tempo style and his knack for rebounding as a point guard. He also credits former NBA player Dee Brown, who is an assistant coach in charge of the Flames’ player development.
Some of Ferguson’s highlights during the season include 12 points and 6 rebounds against Notre Dame, 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists against Illinois State, a 23-point, 10-rebound and five assist performance against St. Joseph’s and 18 points and 11 assists against Duquesne.
The sky is the limit for this former East St. Louis product. And I wish him well as the Horizon League Tournament begins in a couple of weeks.
Scott’s Notes:
The East St. Louis Flyers’ basketball team is currently 22-5 and sitting atop the powerful Southwestern Conference standings. The Flyers put themselves in the driver’s seat for the league title after defeating Belleville West 57-56 on the road last Friday night.
The Flyers made three of four from the free throw line while West was 17 of 20 from the line. NEED I SAY MORE?! East Side will entertain O’Fallon on Friday night and finish the season at Collinsville on February 22 before beginning the Class 3 regional playoffs. Many fans around the state are looking forward to a Class 3A Super-Sectional showdown against powerhouse program Springfield Southeast.
Congratulations to the Mason-Clark Cardinals, who will play for the IESA Middle School state championship tonight against Springfield Grant in Urbana, Illinois. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. Mason-Clark is currently 25-2 while Grant is currently 27-1 going into the championship game.
