Hinds Community College basketball coaches were watching Clarksdale High School senior power forward and center A’myiah Fizer play for much of the 2019-20 season.
That persistence paid off as Fizer, who averaged 11.7 points, 0.6 assists, 6.1 rebound, 0.6 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, recently announced her decision to play for Hinds next season. Before signing, Fizer earned many honors in high school including All-District for Region 3-4A and Mississippi Play Sports ranked her No. 41 of 50 seniors in the state. Lady Wildcats teammate point guard Patrice Broomfield was ranked 32 of the 50 seniors.
“I chose Hinds because I felt at home,” said Fizer of her decision to play for the Lady Bulldogs. “When I went on the visit, I felt welcomes by the team and the coaches. From the beginning of the season to the end of the season, they kept in contact.”
Fizer’s visit to Hinds was January 18 and coaches attended CHS road games at Yazoo City and Cleveland Central high schools. They have been communicating with her since October through phone calls, text messages and emails.
“I wanted to go not too far, but at least an hour away (from Coahoma County),” Fizer said.
Fizer officially made her decision around the end of February and beginning or March, but only announced it within the past couple of weeks.
“I had already made my decision,” Fizer said. “I just kept it quiet, but I had already signed my letter if intent and everything.
“I waited to announce to make sure that I was sure that’s where I wanted to go.”
Fizer said, when the coronavirus passes, she hopes to have an official signing ceremony.
She plans to major in computer science and apply to the film program before going on and studying to be an engineer. She wanted to play junior college basketball before a four-year school.
“After these two years at a junior college, I’ll be able to decide if I want to keep going or I want to stop,” Fizer said.
Fizer has already experienced a strong level of success in high school. When she was in eighth grade, the Lady Wildcats finished at the bottom of their district. They won the district championship her freshman year when she was the “sixth man” off the bench many nights and started some games. She had the same role as a sophomore and was a regular starter as an upperclassman.
Clarksdale was competitive all four years of her high school career and she was not surprised.
“I knew when we were going to Clarksdale High we were going to change it around because of our record in middle school and the chemistry we had,” Fizer said.
Fizer attended WA Higgins Middle School and was part of a 14-1 team in seventh grade and a 15-1 team in eighth grade. Two of her senior classmates that also made key contributions all four years were Broomfield and guard Tameria Daniels.
“I loved being a Lady Wildcat,” Fizer said. “It was a good experience. I was scared going into his high school because it was going to be a level up. I became comfortable and it was great.”
Fizer’s best game of the season was a 66-48 home win against district opponent Greenwood High School where she finished with a double-double of 23 points, 15 rebounds and 5 blocks.
“That was kind of our rival team during district time,” Fizer said. “They were our most competition.”
One of the most competitive matchups came against Coahoma County High School.
Fizer’s mother, Cortney Jackson, is the CCHS principal.
The Lady Red Panthers won most of the matchups, but the Lady Wildcats did a 53-43 win at CCHS in December 2019.
“It was kind of weird that my mom was the principal of the school we always play that’s a rival team,” Fizer said. “I know she has to cheer for that school and my school because that’s her school and I’m her daughter. I needed to win because my mom was the principal, but we came up short.
“I think she cheered for both, but not than the one more other.”
Fizer grew from 6 feet to 6 feet, 3 inches during her high school career, which helped her game.
