Ferguson favoring five

The season ended shorter than expected for Indianapolis Lawrence North High School despite a 28-point effort by sophomore Dominique Ferguson in the final game of the season. This spring the gym will be loaded with college coaches tracking the 6-foot-8, 204-pound small forward.

Louisville, Kentucky, Purdue, Indiana, Memphis, Syracuse, Michigan State, Kansas and Ohio State all watched Ferguson in action during the high school season. Expect these schools along with Duke, Florida and Wake Forest among others to get into the action on the travel team circuit. Ferguson is getting significant interest from all of the above schools.

A versatile athlete with length, Ferguson proved his prowess last summer at the NIKE Hoop Jamboree as a wing ball handler and slashing scorer. During this high school season, he made strides as a low post scorer.

"I played better than I expected this season," said Ferguson. "I got better game by game. In particular, I scored the ball well in the low post. Going into the season I didn't expect scoring down low to be my bread and butter.

"In college I want to be a versatile player who is dangerous inside and outside. I'd like to start as a wing player but then take my game inside by slashing to the basket and posting up. I'd like to develop my game from the inside to the outside."

Surprisingly, Ferguson said he does not have any official offers despite the heavy attention. He does, however, have a top five even though his school list is open. Wake Forest, Purdue, Louisville, Syracuse and Kentucky make up his top five.

All five of his favorites with the addition of Kansas, Memphis and Syracuse are likely destinations for unofficial visits. Indiana has already hosted Ferguson for a couple games.

Ferguson will be looking a several factors when choosing a school.

"How far away from home the school is will be important," he said. "I'll also look at what players are at my position and what playing time will be like. And I want to play for a down to earth coach. It's important that I can talk to him like I'd talk to a friend."

Ferguson, who averaged 12 points, six rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season, is a likely five-star prospect when the 2010 rankings expand this spring.