For Immediate Release Date: October 23, 2021
Book Contact: Rohn Brown, brown8043@nullcomcast.net 804 263-3557
Subject: Farmville and Clarksville Va. Host Book Signings for “Jerome Kersey: Overcoming the Odds”
Kerry Eggers, author of “Jerome Kersey: Overcoming the Odds” makes his only Virginia appearances in two book signing events on Saturday, November 20 in Farmville, Va. and on Sunday, November 21 in Clarksville, Va. Eggers, along with members of the book team, will sign and sell books and entertain questions. Jerome’s family and friends are encouraged to attend and there is no charge.
On November 20, the book team visits Jerome Kersey Court at Longwood University’s Willett Hall in Farmville. Kersey dominated the same hardwood from 1980-1984 before taking off to a 17-year NBA career.
During the book event, Longwood Men’s Basketball hosts a multi-team event. On Saturday afternoon, Western Carolina faces American at 3:30, while the homestanding Lancers meet UMBC at 6:00. The book event starts at 4:30 and finishes at the end of the Longwood-UMBC contest. A game ticket is not required to attend. Enter the main entrance of Willett facing Greenwood Library. The signing will be in the adjoining lobby.
The book team heads south to Jerome’s childhood hometown of Clarksville on Sunday, November 21. The Clarksville Community Center, 103 Woodland Drive, will host the afternoon event from 2:00 to 6:00. Kersey graduated from nearby Bluestone High.
Books are for sale in Farmville at Barnes and Noble-Longwood University and the Hotel Weyanoke. In Clarksville, visit Hite’s Clothing and Frames & Stitches in the Virginia Avenue Mall. “Overcoming the Odds” is published by Dementi Milestone Publishing of Manakin-Sabot Va. and available at www.dementibooks.com. Book proceeds benefit the Jerome Kersey ’84 Men’s Basketball Scholarship Fund at Longwood. The suggested retail price is $25.
Book Summary
Raised by his grandparents in rural Mecklenburg County Va., Jerome Kersey earned a basketball scholarship to Longwood College (now Longwood University) as an athletic, but raw 6-4 guard. He sprouted to 6-6 and eventually filled out to a muscular 6-7 225 and a two-time All-American. Playing in the obscurity of NCAA Division II in Farmville, Kersey took advantage of a late cancellation at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament to showcase his talents to the NBA. He was selected in the second round of the 1984 NBA draft by the Portland Trailblazers where he spent 11 of his 17-year pro career. His basketball talents and fearless determination on the court are just half the story. Kersey touched all with his personal demeanor, smile, and simple principles. He passed away at 52 on February 18, 2015, due to complications from a blood clot and was survived by his wife Teri and his daughter Kiara.
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Eggers
Author
Kerry Eggers, a veteran author and sports journalist, takes a deep dive into Jerome Kersey’s life from his youth in Clarksville, Va. to his last days in Oregon. Eggers, who covered the Trail Blazers for The Oregonian and Portland Tribune before retiring in 2020, interviewed over 80 of Jerome’s friends, family, teammates, and coaches.
Coupled with interviews by former Longwood Sports Information Director Hoke Currie from the 1990s, Eggers lets those who knew Jerome the best tell the story of one of Portland’s most beloved Trail Blazers. One of Jerome’s closest friends and Portland teammate, Terry Porter, wrote the book’s foreword.
Book Team
Author – Kerry Eggers, Wilsonville, Ore.
Publisher – Wayne Dementi, Dementi Milestone Publishing, Manakin-Sabot, Va. Project Benefactors – Hoke and Nancy Currie, Lewisville, NC
Project Coordinator – Rohn Brown, Mechanicsville, Va.
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Wayne Dementi Dementi Books
1530 Oak Grove Drive Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 www.dementibooks.com
804 784-5151 804 363-0160 dementi@nullaol.com