It is a warm March afternoon and you can hear the roar of the yellow scooter Fitzgerald is riding. It looks like a giant, on a baby toy. With Fitzgerald standing six foot seven inches weighing in at 250 pounds, it is hard for him to be inconspicuous. “I ride because I enjoy it and it gives me piece of mind.” Fitzgerald says.
You may recognize Fitzgerald as the guy on the yellow scooter, but he has a very different side on the basketball court. He has proved to be one of the best players to come through The University of the Cumberlands men’s basketball program.
Fitzgerald attended one of Cumberlands big men camps during the summer before his senior year of high school and got to know a little bit about the school. When he attended the big man camp he had only been playing basketball for one year, and was four inches shorter. Patriots coach Don Butcher said “ I had no idea who he was, but after the first session, I knew he was a very good player with a nice career ahead of him.”
When Fitzgerald returned home to Cleveland and began his senior year of basketball the unimaginable happened. “ I broke my tibia, and missed six weeks of school, and only got to play six games” according to Fitzgerald. After only playing one full season of basketball, and a broken tibia, Coach Butcher decided he wanted Fitzgerald. “ I signed to play here in January of my senior year, I was still on crutches.” Says Fitzgerald.
During his freshman year at Cumberland Fitzgerald did not play, he red-shirted, and his sophomore year he was limited in play because there were other post players ahead of him. “Luke lived in the weight room and went through many quick-feet drills.” Says Butcher. Fitzgerald worked hard his freshman and sophomore to make up for the years that he missed in high school.
Fitzgerald started to make a name for himself his junior year. He was named to the Mid-South Conference all tournament team along with several player of the week honors. Fitzgerald was also named third team All American his junior season. When Fitzgerald returned to Cleveland he played in several summer league basketball teams allowing him to stay in good shape and prepare for his final season as a Patriot.
His final season as a Patriot proved to be one of many accolades. The thing that Fitzgerald remembers first about his senior season was being number one. “ It was new, something that I had never experienced I could say we were number one.” The Patriots opened their season with a number one ranking in the nation. The Patriots stayed number one for about a month during Christmas break, but after the loss on the road to Mountain State they fell in the polls.
Throughout Fitzgerald’s senior season he received once again several player of the week honors. However that was not the most exciting award he got. While attending the Mid-South Conference tournament banquet, he received one of the most coveted honors a player in the NAIA could receive. Fitzgerald was named Mid-South Conference player of the year. There are 12 conferences in the NAIA, and each one have a player of the year. Fitzgerald is one of very few to receive this honor. “ It was an honor and privilege.” He says.
Now after his final season as a Cumberland Patriot is over he is busy talking with his contacts overseas many of them being former Patriots themselves. “Luke is a player that can continue his career after college.” Says his coach Mark Vernon. Fitzgerald hopes to find a team to play professionally for, somewhere overseas. “It is a good possibility that I will play in Germany or Australia, but we will have to see”. Says Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald admits that he has enjoyed playing here at the University of the Cumberlands. Who knows maybe one day our very one Fitzgerald will be playing in the NBA making millions of dollars. Fitzgerald says “It would be nice to not have to work a day in my life, and if I can play basketball I will.”
No comments:
Post a Comment