Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. on the Move Again
Whispers about Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. possibly transferring out of Hillsboro were confirmed with a few pen strokes Friday morning.
“It is finalized,” said Marcus Fitzgerald Sr. “It is finalized today. I actually signed the paperwork today.”
One of the brightest college prospects in the state, Class of 2020 Fitzgerald Jr. has been accepted into Brentwood Academy and will play as soon as February 13th 2018, a mandated year from when he and his family shut it down (injury) at Stratford High School.
This morning father and son drove onto the sprawling Brentwood campus to kickstart an enormous early-life decision. It was not a decision reached on a whim and more than two people had input and advice.
Leap Year
Grandson of former Stratford High School Head Football Coach Maurice Fitzgerald, Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. began his high school career in 2016-2017 with Stratford High School. It went well. He scored 30 several times and instantly proved he is an offensive weapon at the high school level.
“At Stratford his knee started hurting and he sat down early anyway,” said Fitzgerald Sr. “I think he had a torn meniscus. He was having groin problems and knee problems anyway.”
Then Hillsboro High School hired Maurice Fitzgerald in March for their head football coaching position. Both Marcus Jr. and Donald followed.
Broadly considered one of the best sophomores in the state, Fitzgerald Jr. intended to play for Hillsboro High School his final three years of high school.
“He was at Stratford last year as a freshman with his granddad,” said Fitzgerald Sr. “Last year, what happened was, my dad, which is his grandfather is a legendary football coach…he won a couple state championships with Pearl Cohn back in the day. He got a new job at Hillsboro. When he took the Hillsboro job this year Marcus and his adopted son Donald elected to transfer to Hillsboro with their granddaddy. They were ruled eligible because they were following a family member.”
But the first school leap will now be followed by another, this time to Brentwood Academy. If you are noticing at tinge of indecision that might be because there are differing philosophies within the same informed family.
“Like I said a couple schools he was following his grandad,” shared Marcus Fitzgerald Sr. “Marcus stays with his grandfather. I had him young. I had him at 18. Now I have the custody. That was a safe place for him, me being young and going to college. Following his grandad may or may not the best best thing for him. Is that good for him? Does he want to be there (at Hillsboro)?”
These two questions deserved deeper consideration.
Reasons to Hate the Move
This needs to be prefaced with PrepHoops.com/Tennessee is not in the business of telling parents where their kids should go to school. The analysis is merely on the merits of playing basketball for Brentwood Academy versus Hillsboro or Stratford for an aspiring college basketball prospect.
Brentwood Academy basketball historically plays against a few quality opponents and then numerous deeply inferior opponents. The same problem faced Darius Garland and family when he picked Brentwood Academy. Even if Brentwood Academy boasts wonderful facilities, gyms, academics, and faculty support, would the basketball competition make him better?
Can a young elite talent improve playing against teams without any elite talents? Yes, of course. The question was and is to what degree?
Is attending Brentwood Academy sufficient to draw college interest and offers? Do college coaches come to watch Brentwood Academy basketball games? Until Darius Garland’s rise the answer was largely no. Nashville broadly and Brentwood Academy specifically was not often a stop for national powerhouse programs and frankly many high-major teams outside the region would pass by the city for fear of only seeing one or two recruitable players.
Now that is changing, but when Darius Garland arrived the strength of the city was Brentwood Academy’s freshman class, Ensworth (Jordan Bone, Desmond Cambridge), and C.P.A. (Braxton Blackwell, Tyger Campbell).
In short the answer once was BA did not routinely draw college coaches, but Darius Garland might have changed that regional impression with his national notoriety. Winning three straight state championships didn’t hurt.
The key to a great recruitment process is being seen by the right people at the right time playing the right caliber of basketball. You could argue that anybody great will be seen in the modern age. You could also argue that there is no replacement for in-person evaluations and if you aren’t personally seen you don’t really exist to recruiters.
Brentwood Academy’s improved schedule will continue during Life after Darius.
“I guess the only reason now is that Darius forced them to step up their schedule so hard,” said Fitzgerald Sr. after speaking with Brentwood Academy Head Coach Hubie Smith. “They are going to keep the same tournaments. We are kind of piggybacking off that. Darius kind of raised the bar. He loved it so much, because he didn’t want to leave.
Darius Garland is the kind of talent that didn’t need unblinking cameras fixated on him, but he did need cameras on him at some point.
Remember that Zion Harmon, Jaden Springer, Tyger Campbell, James Wiseman, Braxton Key (Blackwell) all lived in Nashville very recently. They did not finish high school in Nashville.
That is not an accident.
“There were talks about (Darius) leaving to Oak Hill,” said Fitzgerald Sr. “They said they are going to keep it (national schedule). They go to a couple big tournaments. Then they got the light on him.”
Does this move indicate that an aspiring pro Nashville-raised hooper can not fully develop in Nashville Metro Schools?
This concern digs deeper than basketball. Tennessee has a curious relationship with public/private debate in schooling. Forget which you believe prepares your child better for life after school, this debate purely addresses the basketball potential of each.
Reasons to Love the Move
Father Marcus Fitzgerald Sr. makes a strong argument for the transfer to Brentwood Academy. When asked if the move does in fact undercut the assertion that an elite hooper can emerge from Nashville Public Schools.
In the 90’s…my best friend from Ron Slay. SEC player of the year. Jamont Gordon. That is 20 years ago. Then the latest one is Bo Hodges last year. If you look at it Marcus and Bo Hodges got the same offers. Bo Hodges has one offer and he is a two-time Mr. Basketball. What else can you do in Metro? Who is really shining the light on Metro? If Bo Hodges is two-time Mr. Basketball what else can you do? You win a state championship and two time Mr. Basketball….It is almost like you top out. I think it is unjust.
Fitzgerald Sr. knows there will be heat from other parents in the city, other basketball fans in the city about this move. But he and his son see this as the best option.
“I have to do this,” said Fitzgerald Sr. “Some people say this and that, but this is my kid. He has a 22 ACT. My kid has a 3.7 GPA. He went through the war. I am not about to test the waters to prove something to anybody about my own child. I proved it in ninth grade. He has always been a private school guy. My dad has always been a metro guy.”
The family tension on this issue is very interesting. Even Fitzgerald Sr. acknowledged that just 10-15 years ago almost all athletes attended their same high school for the duration of their prep careers.
The basketball landscape has changed. First there were some invested private schools that tugged players away from their high schools. Then there were a few prep schools popping up. In the last 10 years the trickle became a deluge and it appears unlikely to turn around any time soon. New basketball factories pop up weekly, it seems.
Few Nashville Metro Schools can match the gymnasiums, courts, and weight rooms of an Ensworth or Brentwood Academy. Darius Garland also has professional training nearby, but top trainers tend to find elite talents wherever they exist. It is a symbiotic relationship beneficial to all parties.
What does Marcus Jr. think of the move?
“Marcus said, ‘Dad, I want people in the stands. Metro has 10 people in the stands. It was 10 people there. I had 38 points last year against Whites Creek. In the Christmas Tournament…at 14 years old and nobody said anything.”
The yearning for sports love at a young age was always there, but the stakes are higher and spotlight glare are brighter than ever.
For better or worse young hoopers know that. And they want their sliver of the pie.
“Kids want to be applauded,” said Marcus Fitzgerald Sr. “He walked in to Brentwood Academy to fill out paperwork. The school erupted. Every kid wants this.”
Health
Before Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. plays basketball for any team he has to recover completely. According to his father he will not play until he is 100%, but that will probably come before he is able to play (Feb.13).
“He could have [gone] anywhere because he was sitting out with an ACL,” said Fitzgerald Sr. “We entertained it. He got in (to Brentwood Academy). They don’t really accept transfers.”
If his body is fully ready Marcus might get to play the final month with Darius Garland and the Brentwood Academy Eagles.
“He will be cleared by the doctor’s January 15th,” said Fitzgerald Sr. “We don’t know if he is going to play (at that point). If I say he is 100% he will be able to play.”
Because Marcus Jr. is not currently playing and like he said few covered his freshman exploits last season at Stratford, the former whispers now rumbles might not be audible to all four state lines…but they should be. Pending a full recovery this impacts Division II statewide for the foreseeable future.
“I look at it as a step up,” said Fitzgerald Sr. of the impending move. “Ultimately, we tried to follow my dad. You always want your kid to follow his granddad.”
Now Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. will leap to Brentwood Academy.