Duane Ferrell facts for kids

Duane Ferrell, born on February 28, 1965, is an American who used to play professional basketball. He played for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a player for the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, and Golden State Warriors. Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. While in college, he earned special honors twice in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Early Life and College Basketball

Duane Ferrell went to high school at Calvert Hall College in Towson, Maryland. He was part of a very special team in 1982. This team was ranked as the number one high school team in the entire country.

Playing for Georgia Tech

After high school, Ferrell attended Georgia Tech from 1984 to 1988. In 1985, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year. This award goes to the best new player in the ACC. During his final year at Georgia Tech, he scored an average of 18.6 points in each game.

Duane Ferrell's NBA Career

Ferrell enjoyed his most productive seasons in the NBA as a member of the Hawks

Duane Ferrell was not chosen in the NBA draft, which is how most players join the league. However, he still made it to the NBA! The Atlanta Hawks signed him as a free agent in 1988. A free agent is a player who is not under contract with any team and can sign with any team they choose.

Time with the Atlanta Hawks

Ferrell played six seasons with the Hawks, mostly coming off the bench as a "reserve" player. This means he was a substitute who came into the game when needed. His best season with the Hawks was in 1991–92. During this time, he scored a career-high average of 12.7 points per game. He played about 24 minutes per game that season.

Before returning to the Hawks in the 1989–90 season, Ferrell played 40 games for the Topeka Sizzlers. This team was part of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), a league that was a step below the NBA. He played very well, averaging 24.3 points per game. Because of his great performance, he was named the CBA Newcomer of the Year. This helped him get back to the NBA with the Hawks.

Moving to Other Teams

After the 1993–94 NBA season, Ferrell became a free agent again. On September 30, 1994, he signed with the Indiana Pacers. He played three seasons with the Pacers.

In 1997, Ferrell and his Pacers teammate Erick Dampier were traded to the Golden State Warriors. A trade means players are exchanged between teams. They were traded for a famous player named Chris Mullin. Ferrell finished his NBA career playing for the Warriors.

Ending His Playing Career

Duane Ferrell played a total of 11 seasons in the NBA. He also played in the NBA Playoffs five times. Three of those times were with the Hawks, and two were with the Pacers. In 1999, he was traded back to the Hawks one last time. However, the Hawks decided to "waive" him, which means they released him from his contract. This marked the end of his playing career.

Life After Playing Basketball

After retiring from playing, Duane Ferrell continued to be involved in basketball. He worked for the Atlanta Hawks and the Washington Wizards. His job was to manage player relations and programs. This meant he helped players with different aspects of their lives and careers.

Ferrell is also involved with an organization called On Court Player Development. This group is a basketball academy and community organization. It works to help develop basketball programs for young players.

Duane Ferrell has a nickname that stuck with him since his college days: "Paco."

See also

In Spanish: Duane Ferrell para niños