The curtain on their careers has finally been pulled down.
Their Victory Tour played its last concert in Raleigh, N.C. in the MEAC Tournament, but unfortunately, it did not lead to a thrilling finish.
Nevertheless, the seniors on the Rattler basketball team have wrapped up their respective careers at Florida A&M University, something of which they all said were pleased to have been a part.
Point guard Tony Tate, forward Jonathan Kelly and center Glen Elliot are now charged with the task of finding ways to satisfy their basketball jones in the future.
That is, if they intend to do so.
For Kelly, a 21-year-old broadcast journalism student from Tallahassee, it is not a question of if, but where.
“I think I’m going to try for a year or so to keep on trying to play somewhere,” Kelly said. “I’m going to talk to some agents and see if I can go overseas. The (National Basketball Development League) is an option too. I just want to play ball where I can make money.”
At 6-foot-6, Kelly averaged six points and 3.2 rebounds during his Rattler days.
Although he has not received any invitations for tryouts right now, he said he has several connections in the NBDL who could point him in the right direction.
Elliot, a Jacksonville native who transferred to FAMU from Temple University, is also planning on pursuing a post-college basketball career. The 6-foot-9 center appeared in more games this season (31 compared to nine last season) and said he wants to continue playing because he wants to be able to showcase his talent.
Elliot said he believes he is good enough to play in the United States, but he is not limiting himself to domestic opportunities.
“If I get a shot, I’ll take that shot,” said Elliot, a 22-year-old civil engineering student. “Where I’ll play will all be determined on politics. It’s all on who you know.”
Politics haven’t appeared to be an issue for Tate.
The Rattlers’ leading scorer and All-MEAC first team selection said he has been invited to a few team tryouts, but he was not prepared to say from whom.
“My first thing is staying in the states. But if I have to, I’ll go overseas. They pay good too,” Tate said.
Whether or not Tate’s hoop dreams convert into reality, he said getting his degree is his ultimate goal.
“I think I’d be something like the second in my family to get a degree,” said Tate, a 23-year-old criminal justice student. “I want to be able to show my daughter that I made it.”
Kelly said he has a possible career in music production brewing if basketball doesn’t work out.
He said he recently entered into negotiations with a rapper to help produce his demo.
“Nothing is final yet. We need to get the paperwork done. When we do that, I’ll have experience and be out there.
“Who knows? I might be the next Kanye West,” Kelly said. Contact LeMont Calloway at thefamuansports@hotmail.com