Tryout turns into scholarship offer for Tiger forward
Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 12, 2005
Greenville basketball coach Randy Fullington had sent out letters and video tape to numerous coaches around the state and the southeast hoping that one would show interest in 6-foot-4 power forward Reshard Fields.
Letters and tapes were sent with little reply.
Then Alabama Southern Community College coach Anderson Ligon suggested that Fields attend a try-out last Wednesday.
Fields wasn't the biggest, tallest or the fastest at the tryout, but he was offered a full scholarship to attend and play for the Eagles this fall.
"I thought I did pretty well during the tryout and then they pulled me aside and signed me right there," Fields said. "It's exciting knowing that I now get a chance to play basketball at the next level."
Fields is the first Greenville and Fullington-coached team to play for the Monroeville community college.
Fields led the Tigers in rebounding in his senior season averaging 8.4 boards a game and 10.8 points per game.
"This was his third year playing basketball so we spent most of his career working with him to develop his skills," Fullington said. "And he's certainly done well in the post. I thought (Reshard) would play at the next level."
Greenville closed out the season with a 15-13 record and the Class 5A, Area 3 champions.
"Coach Fullington encouraged me to try out so, I wanted to make the team not only for myself, but him," Fields said.
Alabama Southern finished 15-15 last season and had a second-team All-American guard.
The Eagles finished third in the Southern Division in the AJCCC to Faulkner State and Southern Union Community College with an 11-5 conference record.