Name: Nelson Jerome Fitchett “AKA” Fitch

What sports have you been involved in? Basketball (primary sport), but also played recreational softball, flag football, soccer, and track and field

What is the dominating sport you play? Basketball

What inspired you to choose the sport you play? Initially, it was my older cousins in the neighborhood (back in Virginia) who basically forced me to play, otherwise I be made fun of until I got mad enough to get out there with them. Once I started learning more from them, I began to develop an interest in the sport. I then began to watch college and professional basketball as often as I could so, that I could improve by practicing what I saw, trying to play the way that they did, and by listening to the commentators describe what was happening in effort to understand the game. It was also when I really started to enjoy making the nets go “swish”, it became exciting to me, and I wanted to play all the time.

How long have you been involved in sports? I’ve been involved in organized sports in one capacity or another since my freshman year in high school (age 14).

How did you become involved with PTE? I met Coach Q through a relative, and we share our basketball histories and interests. Once he told me about PTE and its guiding principles, I felt that this was the type of camp that could develop into something fresh and new, with emphasis on the complete person, not just the athlete.

How long have you been a PTE Counselor (Coach)? About three years now

Describe your strength as a PTE Counselor: My strengths are in being an encourager, as well as a Coach/Teacher… to help each participant enjoy their time at the camp and take some “nuggets” of skills home with them to assist them in becoming better players.

What do you like most about being a PTE Counselor? Seeing young players have fun, improve, and leaving the camp excited about being able to do something that they could not do before they got there. Now that’s fun!

How has sports helped you with your life achievements and everyday goals? Teamwork, discipline, and determination… all of which are transferrable from the basketball court, to education, employment, and every aspect of life.

What is an inspirational quote you would like to pass along? (your EDGE of the day) Be the very best “You” that you can be, in relation to you own personal interests with preparation… then you won’t be preoccupied with trying to be like someone else. You are unique, not a duplicate.

SPORT History

Sport: Basketball

Position: Forward/Guard

Sport’s Resume:

Nelson Jerome Fitchett started earning high school basketball awards at Taylor County High School receiving First Team All-Big Bend Honors in 1983 and 1984, Class 3-A Honorable Mention All-State in 1983, and Class 2-A All-State Honors in 1984.

In 1984, he accepted a full athletic scholarship to attend Florida State University (FSU) and was a four-year letterman in the Seminole basketball program under head coaches Joe Williams and Pat Kennedy. Fitchett, nicknamed “Jumpin Jerome”, graduated from FSU with a Bachelors of Science degree in 1989. During his career at FSU, he led the team field goal-shooting percentage his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons averaging 59.6 percent. He is listed among FSU’s all-time shooters in that category.

After graduating from FSU, he played internationally in Luxembourg, New Zealand, Israel, Hong Kong and China. In the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) during the 1993-1994 season, he played for the Fort Wayne Fury under NBA Hall of Fame inductee Rick Barry and his NBA teammate Clifford Ray (current Boston Celtics Asst. Coach). Fitchett continued his career playing for the Rockford Lightning (1994-1995) under Mauro Panaggio. During the summer of 1994 he played in the National Basketball League (“NBL”) for the Halifax Windjammers (Nova Scotia, Canada) under CBA coaching legend Gerald Oliver, and also for the Jacksonville Stingrays (WBL) under Tab Baldwin in 1993.

Fitchett served as a volunteer assistant coach for the men’s basketball programs at Palm Beach County Community College (Florida) from 1996-1998, and for Wright State University (Ohio) men’s basketball program from 1999-2002. He also volunteered as assistant coach for Fairborn, Ohio’s High School men’s basketball team in 2003, and as a volunteer evaluator for former NBA Toronto Raptors Mark Baker, for the Kingdom Sports Center (Ohio) 2005 basketball league tryouts.

Off the court, Fitchett has participated in sports radio . He appeared as a guest for the Fort Wayne Fury sports-talk television show, and as special guest commentator with radio analyst Joe Parsons for the CBA Florida Beachdogs in 1994. Fitchett also participated in numerous fund-raising events for charities and schools including Stay in School and Say No To Drugs campaigns.