Myrick a leader on and off the court

In 2009, UNH basketball was in need of an athletic frontcourt player, and associate head coach Ken Dempsey answered that need with the recruitment of Ferg Myrick out of Philadelphia, Pa.

Myrick emerged from Prep Charter High School to carry on his basketball career as a Wildcat in the Granite State. Now in his senior year, he has shown his teammates and coaches his progression and leadership on the court as he looks towards a professional career.

“We knew coming out of high school he was a kid who had a lot of ability,” said UNH head coach Bill Herrion.

 Myrick, a sport studies major and communications minor, was bred in a basketball-oriented atmosphere, having played amongst some top talent at Prep Charter and helping his team to two state championships. He was also a teammate of Markieff and Marcus Morris, who both currently play in the NBA. Other schools including Boston University, Binghamton and LaSalle looked at him, but Dempsey convinced Myrick to become a Wildcat.

“[Dempsey] told me he was going to take care of me and promised me progression in my game,” Myrick said. “Coming to UNH I felt like I was going to take care of me and promised me progression in my game,” Myrick said. “Coming to UNH I felt like I was going to play right away so I knew if I played right away I would get the exposure that I need.”
Myrick was eased into playing time as a freshman, but showed some brilliance and made the America East All-Rookie Team. The following year he was a starter and a strong addition to the Wildcat’s offense, but halfway through the season a ruptured patella tendon in his knee put a premature end to his season and a belated start to his junior year.

“I don’t think he was totally healthy from the knee injury probably until three quarters of the way into his junior year,” Herrion said. “The last quarter of the season he really played well.”
Myrick is making the most of his last year of college basketball as the leading scorer for UNH with 14.3 points per game. At the beginning of the season, his teammates elected him as a captain because of his credibility as a player and his amiability as a person.

“I think everybody looks up to me,” Myrick said. “I’m a good teammate on and off the court.”
As much as Myrick can score he has also been spreading the wealth with more assists this year than ever before with 28.

“I distribute the ball more than when I first came here,” Myrick said.

“He’s giving us stats and numbers that a captain should give you,” Herrion said.

The Wildcats have won two of their last three games, but are 6-15 and nearing the season’s end. Herrion will be looking for Myrick and the other seniors to be the driving force behind a positive end to the season.

“What I’ve said to the seniors is, you don’t have many games left so don’t waste any,” Herrion said.

Myrick believes the missing link to the Wildcats’ success has been the defense.

“Our defensive has slipped,” Myrick said. “That’s when it’s hard to play in transition; it’s hard to get your offense going.”
Beyond college, Myrick aspires to continue playing the sport he loves by playing abroad in Spain until he can catch the eye of an NBA team, a dream he has had as long as he has been playing the game.

“I love playing the game, so if I get paid to do something I like, that’s always a good thing,” Myrick said.