ESPN segment profiles former airman leading Florida State’s frontcourt
January 18th, 2012 | Air Force Basketball | Posted by Phil Creed
Earlier this week ESPN profiled Florida State forward Bernard James, a former airman who is the anchor of the Seminoles’ frontcourt. James served in the Air Force from 2002-2008, where he deployed overseas twice. While in the service he kept growing and became — despite very little previous playing experience — a star for Air Force’s basketball team.
Now a senior at FSU, James is averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Last Saturday he helped the Seminoles shock the college hoops world by destroying No. 3-ranked North Carolina 90-57.
Former airmen stars in Big Dance Friday night
March 25th, 2011 | Air Force Basketball | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Other than Virginia Commonwealth University graduates all airmen have a rooting interest in Florida State in tonight’s March Madness docket. One of their own roams the paint for the Seminoles after finishing six years in the Air Force.
Florida State forward Bernard James has transformed from an airmen into one of the leading defensive big men left in the NCAA tournament.
A high school drop out, James took the long way to college basketball stardom that included three deployments to Iraq. At age 26, he’s one of the oldest college basketball players this side of Brigham Young University.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton discovered James at a 2005 basketball tournament when the 6-foot 10 airmen starred on the U.S. Armed Forces All-Star team. Read the rest of this entry »
6-foot-10-inch former airman stands tall at Florida State
February 24th, 2011 | Air Force Basketball | Posted by Mike Hoffman
Florida's Erving Walker dishes the rock rather than attempt a shot over former airman and current Florida State center Bernard James. (AP photo)
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Watching 6-foot-10-inch former airman and current Florida State center Bernard James hold his own against Division 1 Atlantic Coast Conference competition, it’s hard not to imagine how thoroughly he dominated rec center pick-up games on base.
The 26-year-old James struggled against Maryland’s All-ACC center Jordan Williams in 78-62 loss Wednesday night, but the former airman is no slouch, earning a starting spot midway through this season. He is averaging 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, including a 15-point, 10-rebound game against Baylor and the Bears’ freshman center Perry Jones who many believe will be this year’s No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
Failing out of high school, James took the long road to Tallahassee, Fla. He earned his GED in 2002 and enlisted in the Air Force at age 17 with his parents consent. James served the next six years as an Air Force cop deploying to Iraq and Qatar.
Eventually, James got noticed shooting hoops at the gym and made the U.S. Armed Forces All-Star team. He led the U.S. team to the International Military Sports Council championship in 2008.
When he got out, he played for Tallahassee Community College and earned his Associates Degree before transferring to Florida State this year. Florida State’s coach first saw him play at a Las Vegas tournament in 2005. Read the rest of this entry »