ON THE BALL: McPherson has big plans for Terrebonne hoops

When David Neal relinquished the reins of the Terrebonne boys’ basketball program, Tigers Athletic Director Joe Clement realized his successor would have some pretty big shoes to fill.

&#8220It’s like hiring a football coach to follow (Vince) Lombardi,” he quipped.

Clement, however, is confident the district found a suitable replacement in Byron McPherson, who was named the squad’s new floor boss at Terrebonne’s July 17 school board meeting.

&#8220He (McPherson) will come in with fresh ideas and put his own personal touch on the program,” Clement added. &#8220Every coach that comes in brings a new kind of flair to the team and I think Byron will bring a freshness that the kids are going to like.”

McPherson can’t wait to get started.

&#8220I found out about being hired weeks ago, but I’m still excited to this day,” he exclaimed. &#8220I love living in this area, and it’s always been my goal to become a head coach. This is the perfect job.”

McPherson, 32, left an assistant post at H.L. Bourgeois and inherits a squad that assembled a 19-13 overall record last season. The Tigers narrowly missed the playoffs after finishing tied for fourth place at 7-7 in District 6-5A.

The talent is there, but the team needs direction.

And that’s exactly what McPherson aims to provide.

&#8220We have some good players, but they could have done a lot better last season,” he explained. &#8220We want to improve on that finish.”

McPherson’s solution: defense, defense and when all else failsŠmore defense.

&#8220We will be a hard-nosed, defense-first team,” he said. &#8220I will construct an offense based on the talent I have, but I’ve always had a defensive mentality.”

This stretches back to his playing days at Booker T. Washington High School in New Orleans, where McPherson flexed his defensive muscles in the paint as a gritty center and power forward.

&#8220I don’t remember how many points I scored each game, but I averaged nine rebounds,” he said.

McPherson went on to earn a teaching degree at Nicholls State University in 2002.

He’s been itching to coach ever since.

&#8220I still play whenever I get a chance, but I’ve been mostly studying college and pro coaches,” McPherson said. &#8220I watch a lot of tapes, interviews and practice sessions on TV so I can personally evolve as a coach.”

As well as a role model. McPherson would like to influence his team the way his older brother, Cedric, did when he was growing up.

Cedric McPherson was an all-district superstar who went on to play hoops at Patrick Henry Junior College.

&#8220He (Cedric) was your typical big brother,” McPherson explained. &#8220He was hard on me and always tried to teach me the right way to play the game.”

McPherson hopes he can do the same with the Tigers, a program that is looking to reestablish itself as a perennial power.

And he’s already off to a good start.

&#8220He (McPherson) opened the gym so the kids could play basketball, and we have a gym full of kids each right now,” Clement said. &#8220He’s already allowing for an opportunity for the kids to stick around and to shoot baskets. I think he’s getting to evaluate talent early and getting to meet his new team.”

This team will include Mike Jones (center, 6-foot-5) and Stan Coleman (point guard, 6-feet), two standouts that could make McPherson’s job a lot easier.

&#8220I’m not apprehensive about taking over (as coach),” he said. &#8220I love basketball, and I’m prepared and ready.”

New coach Byron McPherson is optimistic about the future of the Terrebonne boys’ basketball program.