Senior guard Brandon McCoy has taken what he learned as the quarterback for St. Laurence’s football team over to the basketball court to help guide the young Vikings.
They have eight freshmen on the varsity roster.
“The freshmen need someone who comes in and is a leader,” McCoy said. “I just wanted to take over that role and I’m glad they trust me in that role.
“In football, I’m always having to lead the team in the huddle. For me, it’s not that hard. I want to come in and be the last one who leaves, the one who works out the most. It just shows by example that I’m the leader.”
Coming off a big football season in which he finished with over 1,800 yards combined passing and rushing, McCoy is doing big things in basketball.
He’s averaging 17.3 points and six rebounds for the Vikings (7-17).
“He does a good job of switching it up,” St. Laurence coach Byron Burt said of McCoy. “He can hit some outside shots to bring the defender out. He has a good idea when he has a mismatch with a smaller guard on him or sees a guy who he can get past on the drive. He does a good job of recognizing that stuff and executing.
“He struggled a bit last year with finishing around the basket, and he’s really improved that.”
McCoy said he prepared to be the go-to guy this season, even when that meant putting in longer days during football season.
“I knew this year I was going to have to score a certain amount of points for us to win,” McCoy said. “I had to put in extra work in the gym, getting in after football practice or before school.
“It was hard because I was really focused on football season, but I was excited for basketball season. I had to do the work for both.”
McCoy is struggling to make a choice when it comes to what sport to play in college.
He recently took a football visit to the University of Indianapolis and has some other football offers, but he’s hoping for some basketball offers to consider.
“I just love both sports and I can’t choose one,” he said. “I love to play both. When I’m in basketball season, I’m great at basketball. When I’m playing football, I’m great at football.
“I’ve been playing both since I was 6 years old and I can’t put one down. I really don’t know how I’m going to choose. I have big decisions coming up. I believe I’ll make that decision in March.”
Sharp shooting: Lincoln-Way Central (12-10) capped a 3-0 week, which also included big wins over Stagg and Lincoln-Way West, by rolling Saturday to a 55-22 victory over Richards at the Lincoln-Way West Shootout.
Senior guard Jack Vegter poured in 30 points against the Bulldogs.
“When Jack heats up, he’s hard to stop,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Bob Curran said. “He can really shoot it, and our guys do a good job getting him the ball when he gets going like that.”
Sunday Showcase: Evergreen Park will host a six-game event Sunday featuring several of the area’s top teams.
Richards takes on Lake Forest Academy at 11 a.m., followed by Lemont-St. Laurence at 12:30 p.m., Mount Carmel-Oak Lawn at 2 p.m., Evergreen Park-Marist at 3:30 p.m., Brother Rice-Homewood-Flossmoor at 5 p.m. and Leo-Oak Forest at 6:30 p.m.
The nightcap will be an interesting matchup of Leo’s speedy guards against the Bengals (19-5) and big man Robbie Avila.
The Lions (15-3) are accustomed to being at a size disadvantage.
“With our shortness, we have to do what’s best for us, which is to press and play defense,” Leo coach Jamal Thompson said. “Our goal is to convert defense into offense.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
