Around 9 o’clock tonight, Fred Sturdivant will position himself in front of the television for the start of the NBA Western Conference finals between San Antonio and Oklahoma City, intent on studying the OKC player he hopes to become – Kevin Durant.
“We’re both long and thin, though he’s a couple of inches taller,” said the 6-7 Sturdivant late Saturday night, just after his 18 points weren’t quite enough to help save the Chattanooga Rail Runners from a season-ending 123-118 loss to St. Louis in the Central Basketball Association playoffs.
“But I do try to model my game after him. My main goal is still to one day get to the NBA.”
Sturdivant shouldn’t be criticized for aiming high. The former Brainerd High School and Texas Southern star spent much of this past season in Canada and his agent is attempting to negotiate a deal for next season in Australia or the NBA’s Developmental League. So even as Sturdivant reaches for the stars, his feet remain solidly on the ground (Thanks, Casey Kasem).
But everybody who’s ever made a single jump shot in an organized basketball game has that NBA goal for at least a year or two. That hoop dream is tougher to extinguish for most of the semi-pro Rail Runners, however. All these guys have played college ball, some at the highest level, such as former East Ridge High School star Philip Jurick, who later played meaningful minutes at Oklahoma State, after first signing with Tennessee, then transferring to Chattanooga State.