The game was less than two minutes old when Devin drained her first of five three-point shots…..in the first half mind you. That’s when coach Parks called an immediate timeout and announced to the crowd that his star point guard Devin Furgess had just passed the 1000-point threshold in New Manchester High School’s girls’ basketball history. She was as surprised as everyone.
When the game resumed after the mid court celebration, and as if putting the proverbial “Ice on the cake,” late in the third quarter an energized Devin wowed the crowd with a showstopping layup with her back to the basket, a move that conjures up the image of one made recently by LSU basketball superstar MiLaysia Fulwiley, that brought the New Manchester crowd to a wow, wow, wow, hand-clapping stand.
“I had no idea that I’d accomplished that by my junior year,” said Devin as she welcomed hug after hug of congratulations before joining me in the bleachers afterwards. “And I’m still in disbelief,” she said after assuring me that like the 3s she knocks down on the court, she’s also knocking it out of the park with excellent grades in school.
Even more rewarding is sitting in the bleachers within eyesight (and earshot) of Devin’s mom and dad, Sharron and Otto. With mom it’s (eh, sorry Sharron) a frequent “great job team, great pass, sweet move,” heard throughout the bleachers, while with dad it’s typically a quiet reflection, smile and a “proud poppa” nod toward his baby girl.
The day after this special milestone of an accomplishment for Devin, Sharron and Otto were gracious enough to tell me more about their talented daughter.
Give us a sense of your emotions before, during and after the game last night.
(Otto) Before the game, I felt a quiet mix of excitement and nerves, knowing that she was close to 1,000 but not wanting the pressure to steal her rhythm. When she finally crossed the 1,000-point mark, pride and relief rushed over me all at once, almost louder than the crowd itself. In that moment, I wasn’t just watching a milestone — I was seeing years of driveway workouts, sacrifices, and belief come full circle. After the buzzer sounded, the celebration felt sweet, but underneath it was a softer realization that time is moving fast and my little girl is growing into her own legacy.
As I wrote previously in “Devin’s The One,” Devin Furgess possesses an extremely high basketball IQ not only by her shooting ability, but her overall court awareness, passing ability and how she involves her teammates. Am I right in that assessment?
(Sharron) Yes, Devin plays bigger than her height. I love how opponents and even some spectators underestimate her right up until the ball goes in the air. Her court IQ takes over. She sees the floor, gets her teammates involved, and knows exactly when to create a play, pull up for a smooth jumper, or confidently drain a deep three that swishes through the net. I just love her game and there’s nothing better than watching her play and prove, time and time again, just how special she is on the court.
Did Devin inherit her incredible beyond the arc 3-point shooting ability from either of you?
(Otto) As her dad, I’d love to take credit for it. But the truth is, Devin didn’t inherit her three-point shot from me, she built it. I may have been the one rebounding in the driveway, passing her the ball over and over, telling her “Five in a row before we leave,” but she’s the one who stayed locked in. She’s the one who fixed her elbow, worked on her lift, and kept shooting after bad games. I gave her guidance and reps… she gave it discipline and belief.
Now although the public is fortunate to be able to watch her on the court but tell us a bit more about her at home.
(Sharron) Outside of basketball, Devin has a creative side. She loves taking pictures, especially of our dog, and has been designated the personal photographer for her two older sisters. When she’s not behind the camera, she is building Lego creations, playing 2K, or spending time on the phone laughing and talking with her close group of friends. Looking toward the future, Devin plans to major in Business in college with the goal of owning her own photography studio or production company. She is also considering doing basketball training on the side, allowing her to stay connected to the game she loves while supporting and inspiring the next generation of players.
Now I can’t think of a way to end this story with better news than this…the promise of a senior year of dazzling performances by “Devin, the one” and her fantastic coach and New Manchester team!
Devin and Terry
Terry Howard is an award-winning writer, a contributing writer with the Chattanooga News Chronicle, The American Diversity Report, The Douglas County Sentinel, TheBlackmarket.com, recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award, and third place winner of the Georgia Press Award.
