U High basketball, according to Ari Fisher

[5 Comment(s)]

By Chase Trichell

From 2001 to 2004 you couldn't predict who would win the 2A State Basketball Championship without mentioning University High. In three seasons, Ari Fisher's Cubs went 42-0 in district and compiled an overall record of 98-8 en route to winning State Championships in 2002 and 2004.

According to Fisher, U High should have pulled off the State Championship three-peat. But in 2003, the Cubs lost 68-67 to eventual State Champion Lakeview who went 42-0. Down by one point, the game clock expired on U High while Coach Fisher still had a timeout in his pocket.

That game still haunts Ari Fisher and he describes the loss as "all my fault." But vindication came in 2004 as U High captured another State Championship while compiling a 35-2 record. The Cubs stomped the defending Champion Lakeview Gators in the semi-finals before meeting Jeanerette in the State Championship.

Coach Fisher memorized an epic tooth and nail motivational speech which he claims was one for the ages. About two minutes into Fisher's leviathan monologue, Glen "Big Baby" Davis interrupted and exclaimed, "Coach Fisher, after all we've been through the past four years, there's no way we're going to lose this game."

After exiting the locker room, Fisher remembers a brief conversation with his assistant coach: "I looked at him and I said, 'James, this game's going to be over in about five minutes.' I was wrong, it was over in three minutes." The score at the end of the first quarter was 19-3 and the final score was 85-52 - the largest margin of victory in 2A State Championship history.

Ari Fisher had been at U High for seven years, his overall record was 174-46, and he had won four District Championships and two State Championships. So how come 7,000 University High fans showed up for the 2002 State Championship game and only about 300 fans attended the 2004 State Championship game?

Coach Fisher thinks most people knew U High was going to win the game pretty easily. But there was also a distinct "indifference." The 2002 State Championship team featured two black starters, two white starters and one Puerto Rican starter. In 2004, the five starters and first three players off the bench were black. When asked how that affected the fan base, Fisher responded, "Everyone sees color, it's just the nature of our society."

As U High's reputation as a prestigious basketball program flourished, soliciting calls increased. It was not uncommon for parents or families to contact Coach Fisher in regards to their son attending U High and playing for him. Fisher gave each person the same answer: fill out the application and if he's accepted we may have a place on the team for him.

Regarding allegations that University High was recruiting players, Coach Fisher exclaimed, "Absolutely not. Not that I'm aware of, not when I was coach." Fisher describes U High's sudden wave of talent between 2001 and 2004 as "a perfect storm."

Collis Temple III attended U High in the late 1990's. His younger brother, Garrett Temple, was a member of the 2002 and 2004 State Championship teams and Glen Davis lived with the Temple's. All three athletes, who were instrumental to the Cubs' rapid success, played basketball for LSU and none were recruited by U High.

Ari Fisher acknowledges that "perfect storm" type talent is uncommon, especially for schools that truly do not recruit. Fisher's last four seasons at U High were riddled with mediocrity as his teams went 46-69 and failed to make the playoffs. When asked if he made the decision to leave U High, Coach Fisher stated, "Yeah, I left on my own. They were going to let me coach for life."

Coach Fisher, who has been employed by LSU for 15 years, is a devoted teacher at LSU and maintains a love for basketball. If the right job arises, Fisher intends on adding to his 220 total wins as a high school basketball coach.

"I take teaching very seriously. I enjoy teaching but I see myself as an instructor of basketball." In terms of what kind of job he'd consider, Coach Fisher said, "I'll coach again, either the high school or collegiate level. There are a few high schools that intrigue me. If Baton Rouge High School ever brought basketball back, it'd be fun to build it from the ground up."

Originally Published: Issue 826 - December 8, 2009

Share on Facebook

Back to the top