Now that the NBA playoffs are over it is time to start preparing for next year. The lottery was held on June 22nd, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal was July 19th, and the draft will take place on July 29th. We will spend the rest of the month interviewing as many members of the 2021 draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Romeao Ferguson about playing great defense and what it would mean to him to get drafted.
In 2015 you went 31-1 at the Burlington School and won a state title: how close did you come to going undefeated, and what did it mean to you to win a title? We actually needed to lose that 1 game in order to be state champs. That team was probably one of the best teams I have ever been part of. Having a great coach and playing alongside of childhood friends was priceless. The team we lost to in that Christmas tournament by 2 PTS (Victory Christian Center) was the same team that we beat in the state championship. The feeling was surreal. It was the first time in my life winning something significant. Coach Ron Johnson taught us that with hard work/discipline you can achieve your goals.
You began your college career at Lincoln Memorial & Belmont Abbey: what made you switch to Lipscomb? After having 2 good years at Belmont Abbey I knew that I had an extra year of eligibility. My goal was to graduate from Belmont Abbey and then play at the Division 1 level while getting my master’s degree. In my recruitment I was looking for the right fit. Coach Acuff called me and we established an honest and genuine relationship. I knew that Lipscomb would help me develop as a player and I knew I could impact winning there.
As someone who has played at both levels, what is the biggest difference between D-2 and D-1? I thought the talent level would be a big gap but it was not. A lot of the guys I played both with/against in D-2 could have played at the D-1 level. The biggest difference between the 2 levels is that the D-1 guys are taller/more athletic.
What makes Coach Acuff such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? Acuff really cares about his players. He does not yell or humiliate anyone but will always be honest. Even though I only had a short amount of time with him I learned the importance of humility.
Last February you scored a career-high 24 PTS/10-15 FG in a win over Kennesaw State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yeah, I definitely was in the zone. My teammates knew that I was hot and they trusted me. After the amount of work I put in during the season, I knew that I was destined to have great game like that at some point.
Last spring you made the All-Atlantic Sun 2nd-team and were named conference Newcomer of the Year: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? To be honest I was so focused on winning games that I did not realize how much I distinguished myself. When the awards come out it felt good to know that my hard work paid off. Before coming to Lipscomb I set out some personal goals and both of those were on my list.
In 2020 you were named Defensive Player of the Year in the Conference Carolinas and last year you were #3 in the conference with 38 STL: what is the key to playing great defense? Defense is all about heart and anticipating what is happening next. I never wanted to be the guy who was only good on offense and a liability on defense. When I play defense I feel like I am more a part of the game.
The Bisons’ roster for this fall currently has 1 grad student (Parker Hazen) and no seniors: how do you think they are going to do next year with such a relatively young squad? I think they will exceed their expectations. They have a great coaching staff and players who are hungry and ready to play. Ashan Asadullah and Parker were great leaders last year: we fell short of our goal so I know those guys are hungry to make an NCAA appearance this upcoming year.
You are preparing for the NBA Draft this month: what would it mean to you to be drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get selected? It would be a dream come true. Being able to represent my city and celebrating that moment with my mom would be legendary. If I do not get drafted then I plan to pursue a career in the G-League or overseas.