Cleveland Jackson Rejoins Coaching Ranks

Cleveland Jackson, formerly with the Dawgs' 1993 and 1994 hoops teams, was recently named assistant men's basketball coach at Belmont Abbey College.

Jackson came to UGA from Butler Community College in Kansas, where he averaged 26 points and 9 rebounds per game and was named Junior College Player of the Year. He was recruited to Georgia by head coach Hugh Durham and assistant coach Mark Slonaker, joining a star-studded signing class that included Carlos Strong, Pertha Robinson, Terrell Bell and Shandon Anderson. Cleveland averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds per game during his UGA playing career and was the leading scorer for Coach Durham's 500th win.

After graduating in 1994, followed by a brief stint playing overseas and a period of time coaching at the high school level, Jackson was again called by Mark Slonaker, who had become the head coach at Mercer University. This time, Slonaker asked Jackson to join his staff as an assistant coach. Jackson accepted and thereafter coached at Mercer for seven years.

I believe that Jackson is taking the assistant coaching position recently vacated by Jonas Hayes, when Hayes left to join the UGA staff.

Cleveland is a sharp guy and I couldn't be happier for him and his family.

Congratulations, Coach Jackson!

Coach Hugh Durham

Excellent video. Made on the occasion of Coach Durham's induction into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Features Dave Cowens, Coach Dean Smith, and a number of other guests.

I laughed out loud at the impersonations. They had him pretty much spot on.

Hall of Fame

Thanks, Coach Durham, for the all the contributions you made both to individual players and the Georgia basketball program.

Hugh Durham to be Honored

Hugh Durham will be honored as an ACC Legend during this year's ACC Tournament.

Durham will share the spotlight with Len Elmore (Maryland), Thurl Bailey (N.C. State), John Salley (Ga. Tech) and others. The ACC Tournament will take place from March 10th through the 13th in Greensboro, N.C.

Photo Gallery

Coach Jim Durham

I cracked up when I read this story. Not that Jim Durham isn't a good coach. But look how old he is!

Some of you guys are getting long in the tooth!

Anybody remember him?

Hugh Durham: FSU Business Hall of Fame

Video of Durham discussing his run to the championship game against UCLA.

Brief mention of the Final Four run at Georgia.

Durham

Hugh Durham to FSU Business School Hall of Fame

Great event for Coach Durham. He won a lot of games at FSU, Georgia and Jacksonville. He seems to be enjoying his retirement. Married 51 years. Grateful to his alma mater.

Durham Selected

Otto Petty: ACC Legend

Before Coach Hugh Durham came to Georgia to lead the team to the Final Four, he had some great squads at Florida State. Otto Petty was the point guard on Durham's most successful team.

Although only 5' 7" tall, Petty went around and through opposing defenders to lead FSU to the threshhold of the national championship. The article below recounts Durham's recruitment of Petty and Petty's role in FSU's defeat of Kentucky and UNC.

Petty is being honored as an ACC Legend.

Petty

Alec Kessler Memorial Tournament

The Tournament has been set for December 28 through the 30th. There will be 8 boys teams participating and 4 girls teams.

More Information

Coach Hugh Durham will speak at the banquet.

In honor of Alec, I am posting the link to the guest book from October 2007.

Alec

Recruiting the ATL

Good article from the AJC. Dominique and Jarvis Hayes are quoted, as are Jalen Kendrick and Coach Hugh Durham.

It will take Coach Fox a while. He got Vincent Williams on board for 2009, and Gerald Robinson and Cady Lalanne for 2010.

But will the best players in the Atlanta area come to Athens?

Fox will have to see just what it takes to handle the Atlanta AAU scene. Since the NCAA is working to get new rules enacted, the relationships with AAU coaches should be cleaner. There shouldn't be as many issues with the perception of improper dealing, and all this should benefit Coach Fox as he seeks to develop ties within the basketball community.

The biggest issue is the Win and Loss record for Fox in his first year. If Fox can field a competitive and even winning team this fall and winter, then prospects will start to want to come to UGA.

Basketball Recruiting

Inaugural Alec Kessler Memorial Tournament

to begin tomorrow.

Coach Durham will speak at a Tournament dinner.

Alec Kessler Tournament

Elmore Spencer's Story

Sports Illustrated did a story years ago about Elmore Spencer.

Spencer was born in Atlanta, went to Booker T. Washington High School, and found a talent for basketball. At 6' 11" and 315 pounds, he led his high school team to the state championship. Unfortunately, before Spencer completed high school, he lost his mother, and was subsequently treated for depression.

Spencer was recruited to the University of Georgia, and was poised to team with Alec Kessler to give Georgia a very big and very talented front line. However, due in part to the medications he was taking, Spencer reportedly fell behind in his classes. Coach Durham wanted him to sit out for half the year. The school's administration insisted that Spencer sit out the entire season.

There's no telling how good Georgia could have become if Spencer had played all four years in Athens. From what I understand, by the time Spencer's medication was all straightened out, he was on his way, departing from the University of Georgia and heading to junior college.

SI tells the story and follows Spencer up to the point at which he was ready to go to the NBA.

Spencer

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2009

The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, located in Macon, Georgia, has reduced its list of potential inductees to the Hall for 2009. The list stands now at 35 names.

Former Georgia Men's Basketball Coach, Hugh Durham, is part of the list of 35, as is current Women's Basketball Coach, Andy Landers. Alec Kessler, former UGA basketball player, is also a potential nominee.