To go pro or not to go pro, that is the question. At the end of the Saint Louis University men’s basketball 1999-2000 season, Dave Fergerson and Justin Love faced this question. One went pro, the other stayed behind to finish his degree.

Love took his show on the road as he attempted to catch on with an NBA team. A break came when he signed to play for the Phoenix Suns in the Utah Rocky Mountain Revue summer league. After running through the drills and playing the games, it came down to Love and another player to make the roster.

“They chose the other player because of his ability,” said Love. From there Love took his pursuit of professional basketball across the Atlantic.

“I had a tryout in Italy, but then I got a deal to play in France,” Love said. Love headed to France and was greeted by a shady situation.

“I was in a bad situation. The team was losing and they needed some help. One of their guys was injured and I was brought in to fill his spot,” Love said.

A week before the injured player was to return Love received word his services would no longer be needed.

“He came back and they could only keep one of us and they chose him,” Love said.

Even though he isn’t in class, Love continues to learn. “It was a good experience. I haven’t played a lot but I feel like a veteran.”

Playing professionally introduced Love to a completely different aspect of basketball, the almighty dollar. “This whole year I’ve been learning about the business side of basketball. Most guys don’t know about that side of the game,” Love said.

Love will continue his dream of playing as he makes his way to different camps across the country.

“I’m staying in shape, trying to play in the summer leagues. It’s really up in the air,” Love said.

While Love was traversing the globe, playing basketball in different countries, Fergerson remained behind. While he could have tried his hand at playing across the ocean, Fergerson decided it was best to call SLU his home for one more year.

“I came back to make sure I received my degree,” said Fergerson. “The degree was the main purpose of coming to SLU.

“I took advantage of the free scholarship. I wanted to get the degree in case I got hurt, I’d have something to fall back on,” Fergerson said.

If a professional basketball career isn’t in the cards, Fergerson hopes that his communications degree and basketball experience will allow him to go into radio or television broadcasting. “The two choices are broadcasting or coaching. I’m not going into coaching. I’m looking to go into radio or TV.”

Even though his concentration this year has been on his studies, Fergerson’s fire for basketball still runs through his veins. “You have to have determination. I’m not the biggest or fastest player; you have to have heart,” Fergerson said. “You can’t play for the money or the fame; it has to be for the love of the game.”

That love is still there, and Fergerson isn’t ready to give up on his hoop dreams. “I’m looking at playing overseas. I have a couple of teams interested in France and Korea.”

In order to play in the Korean league players must have completed college. “They will only take players who have their degrees and the money is guaranteed,” Fergerson said.

Even though he’s waited a year, Fergerson continues to hone his game. You can catch him running at the Simon Recreation Center with roommate and former point guard John Redden. If he’s not there then he can be found at the West Pine Gym running with the current players on the men’s basketball team. All of this is to stay in playing shape as he finishes school.

“It’s always greater later,” Fergerson said. “If you wait it’ll be better. You can have all the money in the world, but if you’re not happy, it’s not worth it.”

If basketball doesn’t work out then Love will call St. Louis home yet again. “When the time is right I’ll come back here and get my degree. That’s what my family and coach [Lorenzo] Romar want. This is still my home,” Love said.

Both players still have aspirations of playing professional basketball, and both will eventually hold degrees from Saint Louis University. Fergerson and Love chose separate paths to the same result.

“He did what was best for him and I did what was best for me,” Fergerson said.