Eric Ferguson is coming home.

The former Statesboro superstar verbally committed to play basketball for Georgia Southern and new head coach Charlton Young earlier this week.

Ferguson, currently playing for the Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass., will join the Eagles for the 2010-2011 season. He said he never even thought of playing for GSU until Young was hired on April 10.

“C-Y’s my God-father — he’s been in my family a long time and he’s been guiding me throughout this whole process — helping me get ready for Division I basketball,” said Ferguson on Thursday. “When I come back to Statesboro I’ll be a better person, better student-athlete — better everything.”

Ferguson graduated from SHS in 2008 and played his final game in blue-and-white on March 12 when the Blue Devils lost in the second round of the GHSA Class AAAA state tournament. Ferguson scored 47 points in the Region 3-AAAA title game a week earlier.

At 6-foot-7, 170 pounds, Ferguson is a shooting forward who can hit from anywhere on the floor and has a knack for finding rebounds.

“After this year of prep school I had, like, nine big offers from high Division I basketball teams,” said Ferguson. “I’d rather have that guidance than just to go with anybody else. I know that there’s gonna be someone there that cares for me in C-Y. I never even thought about going to Georgia Southern until now. I’m pretty excited.”

Ferguson’s father, Calvester, played for Georgia Southern and was third-team All-Trans-Atlantic Athletic Conference in 1991, leading the Eagles in field goals made that season.

Chad Bishop can be reached at (912) 489-9408.