About Rashad Phillips
Ferndale High School (Ferndale, MI) 1992-1996
Rashad Phillips entered Ferndale High School as a 4ft. 8inch tall freshman who was told he was too small to play varsity basketball. He ended up becoming one of the first players to be a four year varsity Letterman going from being un-noticed to one of the most recognized players in Oakland County. Rashad was Oakland county's player of the year and top scorer in 1996, averaging 25 points, 7 assists and 4 steals. This accomplishment led to Rashad being nominated to play in the Magic Roundball Classic, an All-star game featuring the country’s best high school players. After filling in for another injured player and out-dueling Kobe Bryant, Rashad was named MVP of his winning team in front of the excited Palace of Auburn Hills crowd of 15,000.
Rashad was then heavily recruited by many colleges, but had already committed to the University of Detroit Mercy.
University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, MI) 1997-2001
Rashad arrived on campus and was right away told that he would not succeed as a division 1 basketball player. Still small in stature (barely 5ft. 8 inches as a freshman), the students didn't even believe that he was on the team. What they didn't know is that what Rashad lacked in size, he had spades of in skill and determination! Rashad then went on to not only be successful in his college career, but to re-write the record books of the Detroit Titans and the Horizon League! Just as importantly, Rashad completed his Bachelor degree of Communication Studies in only 3 years, with a 3.0 GPA in his major courses.
Highlights
Professional
· Played in the Golden State Warriors Summer Pro League
· Played in the Charlotte Bobcats Summer Pro League
Rashad has played for more than 8 countries overseas and holds 3 scoring titles and an MVP amongst other records in Italy, Latvia and Saudi Arabia.
Rashad Phillips entered Ferndale High School as a 4ft. 8inch tall freshman who was told he was too small to play varsity basketball. He ended up becoming one of the first players to be a four year varsity Letterman going from being un-noticed to one of the most recognized players in Oakland County. Rashad was Oakland county's player of the year and top scorer in 1996, averaging 25 points, 7 assists and 4 steals. This accomplishment led to Rashad being nominated to play in the Magic Roundball Classic, an All-star game featuring the country’s best high school players. After filling in for another injured player and out-dueling Kobe Bryant, Rashad was named MVP of his winning team in front of the excited Palace of Auburn Hills crowd of 15,000.
Rashad was then heavily recruited by many colleges, but had already committed to the University of Detroit Mercy.
University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit, MI) 1997-2001
Rashad arrived on campus and was right away told that he would not succeed as a division 1 basketball player. Still small in stature (barely 5ft. 8 inches as a freshman), the students didn't even believe that he was on the team. What they didn't know is that what Rashad lacked in size, he had spades of in skill and determination! Rashad then went on to not only be successful in his college career, but to re-write the record books of the Detroit Titans and the Horizon League! Just as importantly, Rashad completed his Bachelor degree of Communication Studies in only 3 years, with a 3.0 GPA in his major courses.
Highlights
- Named Honorable Mention All-American by The Associated Press as a senior.
- Honored with the Francis Pomeroy Naismith Award as the top senior basketball player in the country under six feet.
- Ranks first on Detroit's career list in points (2,319), three-point field goals (348), three-point attempts (879) and free throws made (541).
- Is second in steals (190) and free throw percentage (87.5%), third in free throw attempts (618), fourth in assists (548) and seventh in scoring average (17.8 ppg).
- Holds single-season records for points (785), three-point field goals (136) and free throw percentage (91.6%).
- Was a two-time Horizon League Player of the Year (2000 and 2001).
- Named First Team Horizon League in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
- Is the only player in school history to total 2,000 points and 500 assists.
- Became the third player ever to lead the Horizon League in scoring two straight seasons (2000 and 2001).
- Defensive player of the year (1998)
- Named Most Valuable Player of the 49th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament after finishing second in scoring (21.3 ppg) and assists (5.3 apg). Hit 14 of 26 three-point attempts (53.8%) in three games.
- Nominated as a Junior to the University of Detroit Mercy's All Century Team.
- On January 23, 2010 Rashad was inducted into the University of Detroit Mercy Hall of Fame.
- On November 19, 2010 Rashad's jersey was retired and hung in the rafters at the University of Detroit Mercy (see RP3 night tab)
Professional
· Played in the Golden State Warriors Summer Pro League
· Played in the Charlotte Bobcats Summer Pro League
Rashad has played for more than 8 countries overseas and holds 3 scoring titles and an MVP amongst other records in Italy, Latvia and Saudi Arabia.
Quotes About Rashad Phillips
"His positive demeanor is infectious...he's a floor leader, not just in a sense of directing an offense but in terms of his ability to shape chemistry" ~Sportsnet.ca
"...above all, the consummate team player" ~Jack Saylor (Detroit Free Press)
"...great toughness...a waterbug, penetrates well and has good vision...excellent 3-point bomber" ~NBADraft.net
"...he played head to head against Jason Williams of Duke and Joe Forte of North Carolina and out played those guys..." ~Coach Perry Watson
"he's like Jackie Chan in Nikes" ~Coach Barry Collier (Univ. of Nebraska)
"I definitely learned some things from him. He's an extremely great player that can really score the basketball...he can really get a shot off at anytime and knock it down. He might be one of the quickest and toughest guys out there. That makes him difficult to guard" ~Raymond Felton (Denver Nuggets Starting Point Guard)
"The best player never drafted" ~Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
"...above all, the consummate team player" ~Jack Saylor (Detroit Free Press)
"...great toughness...a waterbug, penetrates well and has good vision...excellent 3-point bomber" ~NBADraft.net
"...he played head to head against Jason Williams of Duke and Joe Forte of North Carolina and out played those guys..." ~Coach Perry Watson
"he's like Jackie Chan in Nikes" ~Coach Barry Collier (Univ. of Nebraska)
"I definitely learned some things from him. He's an extremely great player that can really score the basketball...he can really get a shot off at anytime and knock it down. He might be one of the quickest and toughest guys out there. That makes him difficult to guard" ~Raymond Felton (Denver Nuggets Starting Point Guard)
"The best player never drafted" ~Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
