Mercy, mercy Jerome Kersey …
Jerome Kersey (Jeremy Wade)
I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be writing a biography on the late, great Jerome Kersey of the Portland Trail Blazers in cooperation with the publisher, Dementi Books, Art and Photography of Manakin Sabot, Va.
The book will be entitled “Overcoming the Odds: How Jerome Kersey Blazed a Trail from Clarksville, Va., to the NBA.” It will be published in the fall of 2021. Contributions from proceeds will go to Kersey’s charitable foundations in Oregon and Virginia.
Kersey, who died from the effects of a blood clot in 2015, played 17 NBA seasons, the first 11 of them in a Trail Blazer uniform. It’s safe to say that the Clarksville, Va., native is one of the favorite sons of Blazer fans through the franchise’s 50-year history. His strong play and energy from the small forward position was a driving force in Portland’s run to the NBA Finals in 1990 and ’92.
Jerome’s story is compelling. He was raised primarily by grandparents in a small, rural town. A late bloomer physically, he had only one college scholarship offer — Longwood, a Division II school in Farmville, Va. After a fine career at Longwood, the Blazers made him a second-round draft pick.
Kersey not only made the team as a rookie, he was a strong contributor. By his fourth season, he was a starter and held down that spot for six years with Portland. He ranks among the top 10 in franchise career leaders in many statistical categories.
Jerome was a true Portlander. He chose to make the Portland area his home through his career and afterward. He served as an ambassador for the Blazers for several years before his death at age 52 and was a popular member of the community.
This will be my eighth book. With the help of those who knew him best, I look forward to telling the story of one of the most important success stories in Blazer franchise history.
Readers: what are your favorite memories of Jerome as a Blazer? Share your comments below.
Reach out to Kerry Eggers here.
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