Maurice Ager facts for kids

Maurice Darnell Ager (born February 9, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Michigan State Spartans. Maurice was a star player from 2002 to 2006.

He helped lead the Spartans to the NCAA Final Four in 2005. He was later picked by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA draft. Maurice played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for four seasons. He also played in the NBA Development League and in Spain. After retiring from playing, Ager became a record producer. He also ran basketball camps for kids in China and Vietnam.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Maurice Ager grew up in Detroit, Michigan. His mother, Mattie Ager, was a doo-wop singer. His stepfather was an architect and musician.

Maurice went to Crockett High School. In his senior year, he was a top player on the basketball team. He averaged 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.

College Career at Michigan State

Maurice Ager played for Michigan State from 2002 to 2006. In his first year, he averaged 6.7 points per game. The Spartans made it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

As a sophomore in 2004, his scoring average went up to 8.5 points per game. He played about 22.5 minutes each game.

Leading the Spartans to the Final Four

In 2005, Ager became the top scorer for Michigan State. He averaged 14.1 points per game. He helped his team reach the Final Four. They beat Kentucky in a thrilling double-overtime game.

Maurice was named to the Austin All-Regional team. He averaged 16.8 points and 5 rebounds in those games. In the Final Four, he scored 24 points against North Carolina. Even with his great effort, the Spartans lost to the team that won the championship.

Senior Season Highlights

Ager led the Spartans in scoring again in 2006. He averaged 19.3 points per game in his senior year. One memorable game was at the Maui Invitational Tournament. Maurice faced Adam Morrison from Gonzaga.

Ager hit a three-point shot at the buzzer to force overtime. He scored a team-high 36 points in that game. Despite his amazing performance, Gonzaga won in triple overtime. The next day, Ager scored 20 points to help the Spartans beat Arizona. He finished his college career with 1,554 points.

Professional Basketball Journey

The Dallas Mavericks picked Maurice Ager in the 2006 NBA draft. He was the 28th overall pick.

During his time with the Mavericks, Ager also played in the D-League. He played for the Fort Worth Flyers. In his first season, he appeared in 32 games for the Mavericks.

Moving to Other Teams

In February 2008, Ager was traded to the New Jersey Nets. This was part of a big trade involving Jason Kidd. Maurice played 14 games for the Nets that season. He played 20 more games for them in the 2008–09 season.

After playing for the Nets, he continued in the D-League and also played in Spain. He briefly played four games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010. He was then released from the team in November 2010.

Life After Playing Basketball

Maurice Ager found new paths after his basketball career.

Becoming a Record Producer

In 2010, Ager moved to Los Angeles, California. He started a new career as a hip hop record producer. In 2011, he signed a deal with Akon's record label, 50/50 Konvict Muzik.

His song, "Far From Home," was considered for a Grammy Award. He also released "Forever I'm a Spartan" in 2010. This song became an anthem for the Michigan State University football team.

Running Basketball Camps for Kids

Maurice Ager lived in China from 2017 to 2019. There, he hosted basketball camps for children. In 2019, he moved to Hanoi, Vietnam. He continued his work by running the Moe Ager Hoop School. He loves teaching basketball to young players.

Personal Life

Maurice Ager was raised as a strong Christian by his mother. His college coach, Tom Izzo, supported his faith. Coach Izzo moved Sunday team practices to the afternoon. This allowed Maurice to attend morning church services.

See also

In Spanish: Maurice Ager para niños