J.R. Rider’s loss &045; as small as this world sounds &045; is Marcus Fleming’s gain.

The NBA journeyman got the invitation from agent Fallasha Erwin to play basketball overseas with a team in the Philipines, but he turned it down. Then Erwin &045; the Detroit-based agent who also represents Chris Webber and Stevie Francis &045; put the offer on the table of the former Alcorn star who was looking for a job after parting ways with the Huntsville Flight of the NBDL.

Fleming, by the time you’re reading this, may be somewhere over the Atlantic on his way to his first pro assignment away from the mainland.

&uot;I haven’t heard much about it,&uot; said the Fayette native. &uot;I’m going to the 6-7-and-under league. I haven’t talked to anyone who has been to the Philipines but my coach from the NBDL. He played ball over there. He said it’s hot over there like in Arizona.&uot;

The decision to play ball halfway around the world was an easy one for Fleming, who was getting offers from the Jackson Rage of the fledgling World Basketball Association. The new franchise announced its pitch to land Mario Austin along with plans to negotiate with Fleming.

So Fleming had that and an offer from the Pennsylvania Valley Dogs of the USBL, but when he sat down and compared the three offers &045; well, he was back up shooting a basketball after a few seconds.

&uot;I’ll make more in the Philippines in one month than I’ll make in one year over here,&uot; Fleming admitted. &uot;It’s a no-brainer. I’ve got to do what’s best for me.&uot;

The trip overseas represents the latest stage for Fleming in pursuit of his dream to play pro basketball at the highest level after his final season at Alcorn in 2001-02. A quick stint in the USBL and a couple seasons with the Flight had him parting ways in search of bigger opportunities.

Fleming got released from the Flight March 17, and to him it was more of a relief than anything.

&uot;We had already talked about it during the year,&uot; he said. &uot;They were playing me sometimes the whole game and sometimes 10 or 12 minutes. I started talking to my agent, and he started looking overseas for me. They brought in another guy &045; William Pippen, Scottie’s brother &045; and I think he’s got seven points in six games. I don’t think he’ll be there next year, anyway.&uot;

In the meantime, Fleming has continued staying sharp while spending quality time with his family. He’ll marry Courtney Mitchell, a 2003 Alcorn grad, June 18, and he was able to spend time with his 3-year-old daughter, MarKayla.

Fortunately for him the stay overseas may not be long.

&uot;I played a couple seasons in the NBDL, and it didn’t seem like I would get a call-up,&uot; he said. &uot;My agent told me I’ll be in the Phillipines until June, and I have the option to go back. While I’m over there, he’ll be working to get me in one of those NBA training camps. If I don’t make an NBA roster this year, I have somewhere to go. I could go back to the NBDL, but I don’t think I’ll go back there.&uot;

Adam Daigle

is sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. Reach him at (601) 445-3632 or at

adam.daigle@natchezdemocrat.com.