Hoop dreams fulfilled: Rockets pick up contract option on Fortson

by Cortez Strickland 

Montgomery native Courtney Fortson was recently picked up by the Huston Rockets to play next season. / AMANDA SOWARDS/ADVERTISER Written by Cortez Strickland Filed Under Sports Jeff Davis For Montgomery’s Courtney Fortson, believing that anything’s possible kept his NBA dreams alive. From going undrafted out of Arkansas to playing overseas to dealing with the uncertainty of several 10-day contracts, Fortson never stopped reaching for his goal of running up and down the hardwood with some of the world’s elite hoop giants. Dream realized. The hard work and determination from Fortson has finally paid off. Recently, the Houston Rockets picked up their club option, guaranteeing him a spot on the roster for the 2012-13 campaign. The former Jeff Davis star is set to make slightly over the league minimum – $762,195 – for players who have one year of service under their belt. “I basically feel that I have a foot in the door now,” Fortson said. “I don’t have to look over my shoulders and worry about am I messing up or am I doing good? I just get to go out there a play and show everyone what I got, and I am really excited about that.” The 5-foot-11 point guard averaged 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in very limited action with the Los Angeles Clippers and Rockets this past season. Houston seems to be a team in complete transition after a 34-32 record. The Rockets have made several trades, they grabbed three players in the first round of Thursday’s draft and not to mention that several contracts are coming off the books as well. But those are things Fortson isn’t too worried about. “My confidence comes from the contract,” he said. “Now that my contract is guaranteed and I get to play, that’s all I need.” Alabama’s Mr. Basketball winner in 2007, Fortson plans on visiting family and friends in the Capital City before gearing up for an important offseason that includes suiting up for the Rockets in NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla. Fortson said Houston wants to play more of an up-tempo game next season, a style that favors his best attributes — quickness. “They want fast athletic guards, so I fit that description,” he said. “We’re going to try and play fast to run everyone out of the gym. ... My plan is go out there and dominate — just kill (on the court)!”