LANSING, Mich.—Pro-Am is a mashup of the words professional and amateur. It’s an event in which both professional and amateur athletes compete against and alongside one another.
Desmond Ferguson, owner and founder of Moneyball Sportswear, started with a vision for an event to showcase local basketball talent and to bring together the city of Lansing.
Ferguson played forward at Everett High School in Lansing, then went on to play basketball at Missouri and Detroit Mercy before a brief stint in the NBA and internationally as a professional until 2011, when he retired from the Premier Basketball League in Canada.
After playing at the St. Cecilia gym in Detroit, which has played host to some of basketball’s best players such as Dave Bing, Magic Johnson, Bob Lanier and celebrities like Marvin Gaye, among many other great players and personalities, Ferguson played at the Flint Pro-Am. While playing, he knew mid-Michigan needed something similar: a staple event.
Ferguson opened Moneyball Sportswear in 2002 and supplies uniforms and other sports equipment across Michigan. And then came along the Moneyball Pro-Am, in 2004. Ferguson set out with his vision but quickly ran into a challenge. Detroit and Flint are home to many of the NBA athletes from the state. But Lansing is lacking in this area. Ferguson knew he had to build around the college athletes instead.
Ferguson delivered his vision to Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo. After Izzo encouraged Ferguson to start the tournament, he was able to build with players from the other schools in the state.
Another issue was finding a place to play. The Moneyball Pro-Am now takes place at Holt High School. But it started at Everett High School and moved through several Lansing schools, before arriving at Aim High.
“Originally, we used to play on weekends, but (in the) summertime, everyone wants to travel on the weekend,” Ferguson said. “Including myself. So when the guys weren’t showing up consistently, then obviously no fans are going to show up too.”
He then moved the games to Tuesdays and Thursdays. “In July and early August, what’s going on in Lansing on a Tuesday and Thursday?” Ferguson said. The Pro-Am then took off, alongside the players consistently coming to play, he added.
College and pro athletes such as Kay Felder, Draymond Green, Miles Bridges and Denzel Valentine helped grow the league, as well as local talents such as Derrick Nelson, Justin Ingram, Jonathon Jones, Brent Scott, Carl and Charles Thomas.
The growth of the Pro-Am was evident over time to Ferguson and fans alike. Ferguson mentioned a period early in its history, when there were only 10-15 people in the stands, compared to the hundreds who come now.
“To get to where it’s grown now, where it’s a staple in the community in the summer,” Ferguson said. “It’s something that I always envisioned because at one point in time, I was about to stop doing it. It just wasn’t what I was envisioning.”
He mentioned that right as he was about to stop, the Pro-Am then began to gain traction among fans.
One fan, Lanita Brown, or as many know her by the nickname of “MSU Cookie Lady”, has attended for 19 years, and can be seen courtside almost every game.
“There weren’t many people there [initially], and it was in high school gyms,” Brown said. “I happened to know Desmond [Ferguson] and knew he was going to put it together. The crowds were really small, but there wasn’t much advertisement. Nobody knew much about it, so they didn’t start coming until really about the time of Miles Bridges.”
Bridges is an NBA small forward from Flint, who currently plays for the Charlotte Hornets and played for Michigan State during his college years. Having another local, high-profile player reignited enthusiasm for homegrown talent in Lansing.
“I think it’s really, really helped the community, because there wasn’t anything going on here (Greater Lansing) in the summer, I look forward to it every year,” Brown added. “It brings the community together for people that love sports. The kids really enjoy it, all the young kids.”
Brown said that she feels it’s important for the community to get together, and that there are too many negative things happening in the world, but basketball is a unifier that everyone can love. She looks forward to the Pro-Am because she’ll do anything to keep herself near basketball because of her love for the sport and connection to Ferguson and the players.
Ferguson talked about retaining a fanbase each year, citing the growth goes back to the commitment of the players.
“There’s been different levels of growth, like Draymond [Green]. He came every summer, even his first couple years in the NBA,” Ferguson said. “He helped us grow, and then the success that Denzel Valentine had, the hometown kid, you know being right here, from Lansing and having success, player of the year at Michigan State.”
Ferguson also attributed a new level for the Pro-Am to Miles Bridges’ high-flying style of play, that attracted many eyes from basketball fans on pages such as Ball is Life, as the highlight reel plays were intriguing to fans. Ferguson also sees something similar with MSU forward Coen Carr.
Ferguson also has plans for the Pro-Am’s future. For one, rather than naming the teams after the color of the team’s jersey as they were in the past, the teams are now named after the brands. He said it’s all about the community overall as the concession proceeds go back into local foundations at Holt.
“You can’t just go to a Michigan State game and just go talk to a player, get an autograph and get a picture,” Ferguson added. “It gives you something that you can’t get, especially for those that can’t afford to go to a Michigan State game, you’re not going to be able to get on the Breslin (Center) floor and communicate with these guys, so that gives a different element of intimacy with this.”
Sophomore Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. played the Pro-Am for the second time this year. He said he heard about the league before, but he hadn’t played in a summer pro-am before his first season at MSU.
“It was great, now it’s even better. I get to build and people get to know me in the East Lansing, Lansing community where they’re from, or the Michigan community (as a whole),” Fears Jr. said. “Just being able to get to know me and take some pictures, sign some stuff, talk to me, just really get to know me, outside of basketball.”
Another important thing about the Pro-am for Fears Jr. is the ability to interact with fans and make them aware of who he is outside of basketball and the TV.
Michigan State sophomore point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. walks towards the basket with MSU teammate Frankie Fidler behind him, playing for the opposing team at the Moneyball Pro-Am at Holt High School. (Picture by Jayden Hewitt).
“At one point I was a kid, and I understand, you see a really good player or a good player that I want to kind of know and maybe, hopefully, they’re nice, and I’m scared to ask them questions,” Fears Jr. explained. “But, it’s life. You still can talk to me, and I wanted to talk to kids and people when I got older.”
Fears Jr. also talked about playing against other high-level players while competing and putting on a show. He said it feels good to play with and against his teammates and strengthen the bond and build chemistry together.
The Moneyball Pro-Am is often known for the MSU players being the main draw, but being born and raised in Lansing, Ferguson wanted to make sure that local talent was on display and was just as important.
“We have a lot of great players from here, from the Mid-Michigan area. Some of the fans have seen them in high school, not knowing what they do now,” Ferguson added. “They may have gone to college, or played overseas, or just play at a high level in or around the city. Being a Lansing kid, I think it’s important that we display the talent that we have here come from Lansing as well.”
Ferguson also believes that even non-basketball fans can pull something from the event, saying that it’s almost become a must-attend event in the summer, especially for those who love basketball. He’s also excited that the pro-am has continued to gain momentum after the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the pro-am had to shut down but was relaunched in 2022. And he hopes the momentum continues while offering an opportunity for locals to watch electrifying, high-flying dunks, long-range three-pointers, or being able to meet and sit next to other basketball fans and players.
The Moneyball Pro-Am will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays until Aug. 1, 2024, with the first game beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the last game starting at 8:00 p.m. at Holt High School.
One half of the crowd on Tuesday, Jul 18, 2024 at the Moneyball Pro-Am at Holt High school. (Photo by Jayden Hewitt).
Michigan State freshman guard Jace Richardson goes through his free throw routine at the line, with former Everett High School and Indiana Tech guard Maurice Benson (#0) in the background at the Moneyball Pro-Am at Holt High School. (Photo by Jayden Hewitt).