Salukis sign 6-foot-6 transfer guard AJ Ferguson
05/19/2022 | 9:00:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois men's basketball coach Bryan Mullins announced today that the program has signed 6-foot-6 transfer guard AJ Ferguson.
A native of Houston, Texas, Ferguson averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season as a true freshman at Division II East Central University in Oklahoma. He has three years of eligibility remaining with the Salukis.
"AJ is an explosive player who can score at all three levels," Mullins said. "He is also a versatile defender and takes a ton of pride guarding."
Ferguson's college career began last fall at Arkansas, when he scored eight points off the bench in a 77-74 exhibition loss to the Razorbacks. East Central led by as many as 14 points in the second half against an Arkansas team that finished its season in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
By mid-December, Ferguson became a starter for ECU, and during the final nine games of the season, he averaged 14.1 points per contest.
"The game slowed down for me," Ferguson said. "I realized I can do this, even though I'm a freshman. Offensively, I like to get the rim. I can shoot it, as well. I'm long, athletic, explosive at times, try to get some dunks in."
On the year, he shot .502 from the field, including .359 from 3-point range, and converted .777 of his free throw attempts.
At Cypress Ranch High School, Ferguson became the first player in school history to score 1,000 career points, and he set school records for points and blocked shots in a season, and single-game records for assists and rebounds.
"He left a legacy at his high school and wants to do the same thing here at SIU," Mullins added. "His character, work ethic and competitiveness fit what we are about as a program. He is someone who will continue to get better every year because of his love for the game."
Ferguson was a three-time All-District selection in high school and the Houston Chronicle Defensive Player of the Year.
"Being competitive on defense, that's what makes basketball fun to me," Ferguson said. "It's pride, really — whoever it is in front of you — being competitive and saying, 'I'm going to stop you from scoring.'"
A native of Houston, Texas, Ferguson averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season as a true freshman at Division II East Central University in Oklahoma. He has three years of eligibility remaining with the Salukis.
"AJ is an explosive player who can score at all three levels," Mullins said. "He is also a versatile defender and takes a ton of pride guarding."
Ferguson's college career began last fall at Arkansas, when he scored eight points off the bench in a 77-74 exhibition loss to the Razorbacks. East Central led by as many as 14 points in the second half against an Arkansas team that finished its season in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
By mid-December, Ferguson became a starter for ECU, and during the final nine games of the season, he averaged 14.1 points per contest.
"The game slowed down for me," Ferguson said. "I realized I can do this, even though I'm a freshman. Offensively, I like to get the rim. I can shoot it, as well. I'm long, athletic, explosive at times, try to get some dunks in."
On the year, he shot .502 from the field, including .359 from 3-point range, and converted .777 of his free throw attempts.
At Cypress Ranch High School, Ferguson became the first player in school history to score 1,000 career points, and he set school records for points and blocked shots in a season, and single-game records for assists and rebounds.
"He left a legacy at his high school and wants to do the same thing here at SIU," Mullins added. "His character, work ethic and competitiveness fit what we are about as a program. He is someone who will continue to get better every year because of his love for the game."
Ferguson was a three-time All-District selection in high school and the Houston Chronicle Defensive Player of the Year.
"Being competitive on defense, that's what makes basketball fun to me," Ferguson said. "It's pride, really — whoever it is in front of you — being competitive and saying, 'I'm going to stop you from scoring.'"
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