🏀 More Than a Game: Desmond Ferguson, Moneyball Sportswear, and a Legacy of Giving Back

By Yanice Yvette Jackson | The Chronicle News

Photo Credit-Yanice Jackson-The first of many Breakfast of Champions Hosted by The Desmond Ferguson Foundation.

On a bright spring morning in Lansing, my son Liam and I had the pleasure of attending the very first Breakfast of Champions, hosted by Moneyball Sportswear through the Desmond Ferguson Foundation. As we entered the space, filled with the aroma of good food and the energy of familiar faces and new connections, it became instantly clear—this wasn’t just breakfast. This was community in action.

Photo Credit: Yanice Jackson-Liam poses after breakfast and waits to purchase some new Moneyball Merch'.

The event was a celebration of leadership, togetherness, and empowerment. It brought neighbors, mentors, athletes, and youth together to share stories, fellowship, and inspiration. This moment of pause felt sacred in a city that sometimes moves quickly. Community came first, and so did connection. At the heart of it all stood Desmond Ferguson, a Lansing native and retired professional basketball player, now a proud business owner and community builder.

🏆 From the Hardwood to the Heart of Lansing

Ferguson is a product of Everett High School, a star who took his talents from the streets of Lansing to the courts of the University of Detroit Mercy, the NBA, and overseas arenas. His career included time with the Portland Trail Blazers, and after eleven years of pro basketball, he made a powerful decision—to come back home.

Courtesy Photo-Desmond Ferguson, Owner, Moneyball Sportswear

Returning to Lansing, Desmond took on the role of head coach at Everett, helping reignite a legacy of excellence in student-athletes. But his mission didn’t stop at the buzzer. He launched Moneyball Sportswear in 2002—a now-iconic brand that began with custom uniforms and has since grown into a full-scale lifestyle apparel company. “Grow with us,” the brand says. It’s more than a slogan—it’s a philosophy.

❤️ The Desmond Ferguson Foundation: Impact Through Action

Desmond’s heart for the community beats just as strong off the court. Through the Desmond Ferguson Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, he’s creating a new blueprint for how sports, wellness, and education can converge to empower future leaders.

From free basketball clinics to mentorship and financial literacy programming, the foundation teaches essential life values like discipline, self-esteem, teamwork, nutrition, and leadership. Its mission is to prepare young people for success, not just in sports, but in life.

The foundation also reinvests every dollar raised directly into community resources and programming. Future goals include equipping youth with laptops for educational initiatives and supporting these efforts.

Courtesy The-Team Behind the Desmond Ferguson Foundation. “We hold the principles of community and altruism in high esteem,” Ferguson shared. “Our goal is to build opportunities where young people can thrive in all areas of their lives.”-Desmond Ferguson

⛳ Upcoming Event: Desmond Ferguson Foundation Golf Classic

📅 June 12, 2025📍 College Fields Golf Club – Okemos, MI💵 $600 per team | Shotgun start at 9:00 AM Proceeds benefit the foundation’s free basketball clinics, Moneyball Pro-Am, and other community enrichment programs.

👕 The Business Behind the Mission

From custom uniforms to streetwear, Moneyball gear reflects the values Ferguson brings to everything he does—authenticity, growth, and giving back. Today, the company operates two retail locations in Michigan:

🏬 Moneyball HQ – 927 W. Saginaw St, Lansing, MI 48915 (517) 393-0763

🏬 Moneyball Sportswear – 30215 Southfield Rd, Southfield, MI 48076 (248) 792-9558

Moneyball Sportswear has become more than a clothing brand—it’s a symbol of pride for athletes, families, and creatives across Michigan. With its signature phrase “Moneyball: The Only Way to Ball,” the company blends quality gear with authentic, community-rooted branding.

✨ Legacy in Motion

Desmond Ferguson is more than a former pro athlete—he’s a visionary, mentor, and quiet force of change in the city that raised him. Whether he is mentoring youth on the court, dressing a new generation of athletes, or hosting community breakfasts that feed the soul, he is creating a legacy that lives beyond the game.