Indiana University Athletics
Ferrell Excited for Next Chapter
10/10/2016 5:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell has never been just another player. Whether he was ranked the best player in the country for his age in grade school, or leading his Park Tudor High School to multiple state titles to finally finishing up his career as an Indiana University graduate and the first two-time Big Ten Champion in 23 years, Ferrell has always had a flare for the dramatic.
After helping to steer the Hoosiers ship after a tough start to the 2015-16 season, it was Yogi who drilled a huge three-pointer at Iowa in the final minute that propelled IU to its second road clinching title contest in his four seasons with the Hoosiers. It was Ferrell who got the ball to Cody Zeller three times in the final 51 seconds with IU down by five at Michigan as they won 72-71 in Ann Arbor to win the program's firt outright championship in 20 years. He also put a finger on a potential game winning putback by Jordan Morgan in in the closing seconds.
Now the Indianapolis native will look to make it at the highest level (the NBA) on the biggest stage (New York). He has impressed the Nets organization early in his career and with the Hoosiers visiting New York last weekend for its fall retreat, his former coaches, friends and teammates got to see him in a different jersey color (black) and with a different team.
In the Las Vegas Summer League, he averaged 8.8 points and 1.8 assists in 17 minutes per game. In two preseason games, he is averaging 6.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds. With the Hoosiers in attendance at Madison Square Garden, Ferrell had eight points and three assists.in 17 minutes.
Ferrell talked with IUHoosiers.com following the game about his new opportunity.
How excited are you about the opportunity and how has the Summer League and Preseason helped you get adjusted?
"It's been pretty much everything I thought it would be. Coming to a great organization, The Brooklyn Nets, they've been getting me a lot better - I like the guys on my team, great character guys, great playmakers on the court. So, yeah I would say it is exactly how I wanted it to be."
How was the experience at IU helped you be ready for this level?
"I think I was - that definitely prepared me for this level, just with the work ethic, the attention to detail so much, and just how to go about your daily business as a professional. So, I felt like I just carried what I learned from Indiana to now the pro level.
You have seen extended time the first two games, is that helpful?
"It definitely has – and I'm still learning, going out there learning, but it's been a lot of fun going out there playing and just doing what I love."
How do you feel about your game?
"Well, first, with me knowing my position, I'm going to be a facilitator first. I'm going to go out there and try and make my teammates and get them open looks if possible. So, I'm gonna go in and get into the lane, kick out, and if, you know if II get the open shot, then I'll take the opportunity."
What is it like playing in one of the biggest media markets?
"I think it's great, you know. Especially playing in Brooklyn and playing at the Garden – the mecca of basketball. So, I know they will treat you right out here if you win. So, that's what I'm going to try and do for these guys. But I'm just going to take this whole experience in and just play the game."
On adjusting to living outside of Indiana
"I have gotten to get know a little more people out here. Not as many IU fans I've seen out here, I hear them in the crowd, but I need to see more of them. But, it's been great out here - the atmosphere is great, the city is great, the people are great here, and you know I'm glad to be living out here."
On what he would say to his sophomore self
"I would say take what you do in practice and apply it to the court because the games are a lot easier than practice. So, you know you work hard, you do everything sharp in practice, it'll be second nature on the court. And even when you're playing in those hard, tough away games you won't listen to the outside noise – you'll stick to what you do, stay true to yourself, and I mean just have fun with it. Especially when you're winning you're always going to have fun."
Ferrell Career Notes
2015-16 Season (Senior)
• Indiana University Male Athlete of the Year
• Sporting News All-American (Second Team)
• USA Today All-American (Second Team)
• CBS Sports All-American (Third Team)
• Associated Press All-American (Third Team)
• Wendy's Wooden Award All-American
• NABC All-District 7 Team (First Team)
• USBWA All-District 5 Team
• One of Five finalists for Cousy Award (Top Point Guard)
• First Team All-Big Ten (Unanimous – Coaches & Media)
• Big Ten All-Defensive Team
Ferrell in IU Record Book
• Career Scoring (All Games): 6th (1,986)
• Career Scoring (Big Ten Games): 9th (1,069)
• Single-Season Assists (All Games): 2nd (195)
• Single-Season Assists (Big Ten Games) 7th (92)
• Career Assists (All Games): 1st (633)
• Career Assists (Big Ten Games): 2nd (314)
• Single-Season Assists per Game (All Games): 2nd (5.6)
• Only player in IU history to lead the team in assists four straight years
• Career Field Goals Made (All Games): 10th (637)
• Career 3FG Made (All Games): 2nd (272)
• Career 3FG Made (Big Ten Games): 1st (159)
• Most assists by a senior in his senior year (195)
• 3rd-most 3FG Made by a senior in a season (79)
• Career Games Played: 1st (137)
• Career Games Started: 1st (137)
Ferrell in Big Ten Record Book
• Career Assists (All Games): 9th (633)
IU Male Athlete of the Year ... named the 45th All-American in IU history … earned Second Team All-American honors from Sporting News and USA Today … was named Third Team All-American by CBS Sportsand Associated Press … part of the 10-person Wendy's Wooden Award All-American team … a All-District honoree by the USBWA and NABC … one of five finalists for the Cousy Award, which is handed out to the top point guard in the country each season … earned unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honors ... was also added to the Big Ten All-Defensive team ... finished his career ranked sixth in school history in career points (1,986), first in career assists (633), and second in made 3-Pointers for a career (272) ... set an IU record by playing and staring in all 137 games during his career … he is the only player in program history to lead the team in assists for four years … his 195 assists as a senior were two shy of the IU single-season record and were the most by an IU senior … had eight games of 20+ points this season, including two 30+ point games ... played and started all 35 games ... averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists … totaled 15 points, nine rebounds, and six assists against Creighton ... scored 15 points and added five dimes against Duke ... poured in a career-best 38 points in addition to five assists and five rebounds against IPFW ... posted 24 points, and seven assists against Nebraska ... dropped 19 points against Wisconsin, including several clutch buckets at the end of the game ... set the new school record for career assists on a first half assist to Max Bielfeldt against Illinois on Jan. 19 ... netted 30 points and added seven rebounds at Wisconsin ... scored 17 points and added nine dimes in the win at Michigan ... in the win at Illinois, he led a second half comeback and finished with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists ... scored 20 points, including the clinching 3-point field goal in the final minute to secure the win and clinch the Big Ten outright championship ... on Senior Day, he scored 17 points to go with four rebounds and four assists against Maryland ... scored 14 points and dished out eight assists against Michigan at the Big Ten Tournament ... posted his first career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds against Chattanooga in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament... tallied 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists against Kentucky in the Round of 32 ... dropped 25 points, four assists, and three rebounds against North Carolina in the Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.
After helping to steer the Hoosiers ship after a tough start to the 2015-16 season, it was Yogi who drilled a huge three-pointer at Iowa in the final minute that propelled IU to its second road clinching title contest in his four seasons with the Hoosiers. It was Ferrell who got the ball to Cody Zeller three times in the final 51 seconds with IU down by five at Michigan as they won 72-71 in Ann Arbor to win the program's firt outright championship in 20 years. He also put a finger on a potential game winning putback by Jordan Morgan in in the closing seconds.
Now the Indianapolis native will look to make it at the highest level (the NBA) on the biggest stage (New York). He has impressed the Nets organization early in his career and with the Hoosiers visiting New York last weekend for its fall retreat, his former coaches, friends and teammates got to see him in a different jersey color (black) and with a different team.
In the Las Vegas Summer League, he averaged 8.8 points and 1.8 assists in 17 minutes per game. In two preseason games, he is averaging 6.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds. With the Hoosiers in attendance at Madison Square Garden, Ferrell had eight points and three assists.in 17 minutes.
Ferrell talked with IUHoosiers.com following the game about his new opportunity.
How excited are you about the opportunity and how has the Summer League and Preseason helped you get adjusted?
"It's been pretty much everything I thought it would be. Coming to a great organization, The Brooklyn Nets, they've been getting me a lot better - I like the guys on my team, great character guys, great playmakers on the court. So, yeah I would say it is exactly how I wanted it to be."
How was the experience at IU helped you be ready for this level?
"I think I was - that definitely prepared me for this level, just with the work ethic, the attention to detail so much, and just how to go about your daily business as a professional. So, I felt like I just carried what I learned from Indiana to now the pro level.
You have seen extended time the first two games, is that helpful?
"It definitely has – and I'm still learning, going out there learning, but it's been a lot of fun going out there playing and just doing what I love."
How do you feel about your game?
"Well, first, with me knowing my position, I'm going to be a facilitator first. I'm going to go out there and try and make my teammates and get them open looks if possible. So, I'm gonna go in and get into the lane, kick out, and if, you know if II get the open shot, then I'll take the opportunity."
What is it like playing in one of the biggest media markets?
"I think it's great, you know. Especially playing in Brooklyn and playing at the Garden – the mecca of basketball. So, I know they will treat you right out here if you win. So, that's what I'm going to try and do for these guys. But I'm just going to take this whole experience in and just play the game."
On adjusting to living outside of Indiana
"I have gotten to get know a little more people out here. Not as many IU fans I've seen out here, I hear them in the crowd, but I need to see more of them. But, it's been great out here - the atmosphere is great, the city is great, the people are great here, and you know I'm glad to be living out here."
On what he would say to his sophomore self
"I would say take what you do in practice and apply it to the court because the games are a lot easier than practice. So, you know you work hard, you do everything sharp in practice, it'll be second nature on the court. And even when you're playing in those hard, tough away games you won't listen to the outside noise – you'll stick to what you do, stay true to yourself, and I mean just have fun with it. Especially when you're winning you're always going to have fun."
Ferrell Career Notes
2015-16 Season (Senior)
• Indiana University Male Athlete of the Year
• Sporting News All-American (Second Team)
• USA Today All-American (Second Team)
• CBS Sports All-American (Third Team)
• Associated Press All-American (Third Team)
• Wendy's Wooden Award All-American
• NABC All-District 7 Team (First Team)
• USBWA All-District 5 Team
• One of Five finalists for Cousy Award (Top Point Guard)
• First Team All-Big Ten (Unanimous – Coaches & Media)
• Big Ten All-Defensive Team
Ferrell in IU Record Book
• Career Scoring (All Games): 6th (1,986)
• Career Scoring (Big Ten Games): 9th (1,069)
• Single-Season Assists (All Games): 2nd (195)
• Single-Season Assists (Big Ten Games) 7th (92)
• Career Assists (All Games): 1st (633)
• Career Assists (Big Ten Games): 2nd (314)
• Single-Season Assists per Game (All Games): 2nd (5.6)
• Only player in IU history to lead the team in assists four straight years
• Career Field Goals Made (All Games): 10th (637)
• Career 3FG Made (All Games): 2nd (272)
• Career 3FG Made (Big Ten Games): 1st (159)
• Most assists by a senior in his senior year (195)
• 3rd-most 3FG Made by a senior in a season (79)
• Career Games Played: 1st (137)
• Career Games Started: 1st (137)
Ferrell in Big Ten Record Book
• Career Assists (All Games): 9th (633)
IU Male Athlete of the Year ... named the 45th All-American in IU history … earned Second Team All-American honors from Sporting News and USA Today … was named Third Team All-American by CBS Sportsand Associated Press … part of the 10-person Wendy's Wooden Award All-American team … a All-District honoree by the USBWA and NABC … one of five finalists for the Cousy Award, which is handed out to the top point guard in the country each season … earned unanimous First Team All-Big Ten honors ... was also added to the Big Ten All-Defensive team ... finished his career ranked sixth in school history in career points (1,986), first in career assists (633), and second in made 3-Pointers for a career (272) ... set an IU record by playing and staring in all 137 games during his career … he is the only player in program history to lead the team in assists for four years … his 195 assists as a senior were two shy of the IU single-season record and were the most by an IU senior … had eight games of 20+ points this season, including two 30+ point games ... played and started all 35 games ... averaged 17.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists … totaled 15 points, nine rebounds, and six assists against Creighton ... scored 15 points and added five dimes against Duke ... poured in a career-best 38 points in addition to five assists and five rebounds against IPFW ... posted 24 points, and seven assists against Nebraska ... dropped 19 points against Wisconsin, including several clutch buckets at the end of the game ... set the new school record for career assists on a first half assist to Max Bielfeldt against Illinois on Jan. 19 ... netted 30 points and added seven rebounds at Wisconsin ... scored 17 points and added nine dimes in the win at Michigan ... in the win at Illinois, he led a second half comeback and finished with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists ... scored 20 points, including the clinching 3-point field goal in the final minute to secure the win and clinch the Big Ten outright championship ... on Senior Day, he scored 17 points to go with four rebounds and four assists against Maryland ... scored 14 points and dished out eight assists against Michigan at the Big Ten Tournament ... posted his first career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds against Chattanooga in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament... tallied 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists against Kentucky in the Round of 32 ... dropped 25 points, four assists, and three rebounds against North Carolina in the Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.
Players Mentioned
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