Mac McClung

[Widespread_Panic 197]

An athlete of this caliber comes around SWVA every once in a decade or more. Get out and see this young man while you still can. Should be Calvin Talford type crowds wherever Gate City plays this year. 

[E.Z.DOES.IT 15]

http://www.imgrum.org/media/1561252362047543982_31766164

found this video on ballislife east. 

Edited July 18, 2017 by E.Z.DOES.IT
just to add where I found the video.

[GMan 3,569]

 

[Great City 210]

http://www.slamonline.com/college-hs/high-school/arrival-of-the-mac/#1W4mtHOEHlCxRgxM.97

For those not wanting to click on the above link:

Most kids who are being courted with scholarship offers by high major Division I college programs began playing basketball shortly after they learned to walk and run.

Mac McClung is not like most kids.

The 6-2, Class of 2018 guard from Gate City, Virginia tried playing with some friends on the playground or in driveways growing up, but it wasn’t until seventh grade that he decided he wanted to try his hand at the sport.

As an athlete, McClung considered himself a football player up to that point. But the allure of being a hooper pulled him away from the gridiron.

“Just the whole swag about basketball,” McClung said. “With the kicks, the players and just all the swag that comes with being able to separate yourself with your game is what drew me to it. In seventh grade I told my dad I wanted to be the best I could be, so we’ve been working out two, three times a day ever since. I want to get in the NBA and be a big factor.”

Having NBA dreams isn’t out of the ordinary for a kid who falls in love with the sport. However, work ethic and focus to the point of dedicating just about every second of their leisure time to practice is typically what separates good players from great ones.

Because Gate City High is a relatively small school (enrollment wise) in Virginia, McClung knew he had to prove himself as a total unknown on the club circuit a couple years ago.

As he recalls, while he was warming up before a pickup game the summer after his sophomore year of high school he noticed something totally different: His view of the rim as he was dunking for the first time. Since then, his literal rise hasn’t ceased.

McClung burst onto the radar of high school basketball enthusiasts within the last year as Youtube videos and mixtapes of some jaw-dropping dunks made the rounds on social media. Last summer, mid-major programs began to offer and following another aerial assault on the rims this spring he picked up his first two high-major offers – Rutgers and Georgetown.

Having just wrapped up a successful three-game run with Team Loaded VA at the NY2LA Sports Summer Jam, one of the premier events in July and attended by almost every collegiate program in the country, McClung said he’s now got programs like Marquette, Utah, Gonzaga, Arizona State and Virginia tracking his progress on the court.

Obviously those programs are intrigued by his elite athleticism, but they are more concerned with his overall skill as a guard.

“I don’t want people to think, ‘Oh, he’s just a dunker,’” McClung said. “I want people to know I can play. Legit, I’m doing my best to keep working so I can see how far I can get.”

“I believe I need to keep working on my shooting, and really get that down,” McClung adds. “I drive to the hoop well, and I think I got good moves, but I need to work on my pull-up and three-point shot.”

In Milwaukee, McClung has been showing off his ability to handle, strong drives to the cup as well as his ability to finish in multiple ways at the rim. But he’s also drained some perimeter shots – the part of his game he is still developing. He will have no shortage of eyes on him in the college coaches section as the live evaluation period wraps up.

“It’s so different,” says McClung of playing with such talented teammates, such as high major prospects David McCormack, Armando Bacot, Rasir Bolton and Jairus Hamilton. “I’m just getting used to it. They have to get their shots too because they’re 5-star guys. Back at my place, I have the ball the whole time. It’s making me better because it’s getting me ready for the college experience.”

The rise from a newbie of the sport to a local standout and then national recruit has been rapid. The viral videos of his dunks have helped accelerate his notoriety among hoop fans, but the fact that his mother’s sister has a famous son who is a rapper has also helped some people take notice. Just look at the title of the highlight video above.

Given McClung’s track record of rapid improvement, it is tough to accurately project his ceiling as a player. But it is safe to say he is more than just a dunk phenom. If he gets to where he wants to go, he hopes the other label he’s recently gotten from those who have seen his most recent mixtape will be flipped as well.

“I want Riff Raff to be known as Mac McClung’s cousin,” he said with a laugh.

 

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

Great article on Mac. The kid has always strived for greatness. I hope great things come his way. 

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

Nice in game dunk from yesterday. 

 

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

 

[RiverRat24 274]

he gets a little more brass about him each time he's in the open court. hadn't ever seen him do a 360 even in warmups....i keep waiting for a between the legs slam from him in a game.  

[Great City 210]

 

[Great City 210]

Zachary Ervin 6'5 2019 of Team Loaded VA 16U finished with 18PTS in the win!!!
#AdidasSelect

[RiverRat24 274]

I know the tournament in Vegas is still ahead but considering Macs position ranking went from 30th PG in the nation to 70th on 247Sports in the latest evaluation and from a Top 200 player to missing out on being a Top 400 player....im guessing he either didn't play all that well over the past couple weeks or 40 other PGs just proved to be better.  I can believe a drop in 40-60 spots but a drop in over 200 spots is pretty significant....someone either dropped the ball on evaluating him a month ago or he just didn't show up like a Top 200 player should.....could be a big combination of both.  

 

Edit:  and it's understood that these recuriting services aren't the end all be all and they aren't absolute.  just spit-balling a bit.

[1inStripes 932]

That is somewhat surprising.  I will say 247 seems to be sliding somewhat in the recruiting game IMO, not related to this at all.

[RiverRat24 274]

12 hours ago, 1inStripes said:

That is somewhat surprising.  I will say 247 seems to be sliding somewhat in the recruiting game IMO, not related to this at all.

I agree with you 100%.  I'm a member of rivals and keep up with college football and basketball on a daily basis (especially football) and occasionally see what 247 has going on but don't venture over much.  they aren't as reliable on football recruiting anymore and I'm certain that basketball isn't much different.  I didn't really put alot of stock into Macs drop on there....but I thought it was interesting to say the least and wanted to share in case some of you guys ever take a gander at their site.   just as quick as Mac had 2 good games and a windmill in open court that created buzz he jumped over 150 spots and then had a couple sub-par to average games and one really solid performance and dropped 200+ spots....all within 3 weeks.  

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

Good showing is game 1 for Mac in Vegas. 9 points, 2 assist, and a steal in 16 mins. Plus this. 

 

[RiverRat24 274]

I was just now looking for some info/stats on their first game Larry.  did Team Loaded win? that's a pretty solid performance for only 16 mins of playing time. 

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

Yes they won. 65-48. It was streamed live on adidasuprising. Great coverage other than the fact they called him "Max" all game. 

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

Zac ain't as flashy but he'll attack the rim as well.  

 

[RiverRat24 274]

now that's what I like to see from Ervin.  if he gets some aggression about him in the paint and starts finishing strong around the rim it will be scary what he will do the next 2 years. I'd like to see more power plays from him around the rim to balance to out the touch he has from the perimeter.  He's gonna be a nightmare to stop.

[Great City 210]

................and if the kid from Honaker can shoot from the perimeter like we have been told, the opportunities for Zac to drive to the rim will increase.

................and if the kid from Honaker can shoot from the perimeter like we have been told..........Mac drives.......defense collapses on him...........we should have two great shooters wide open on the perimeter.

Really hope the rumor I heard yesterday is true. Not sure it will happen, but if it does, GC will be getting another addition to the basketball team....a high-caliber additions.

 

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

37 minutes ago, Great City said:

................and if the kid from Honaker can shoot from the perimeter like we have been told, the opportunities for Zac to drive to the rim will increase.

................and if the kid from Honaker can shoot from the perimeter like we have been told..........Mac drives.......defense collapses on him...........we should have two great shooters wide open on the perimeter.

Really hope the rumor I heard yesterday is true. Not sure it will happen, but if it does, GC will be getting another addition to the basketball team....a high-caliber additions.

 

It was in the talks, but it is very doubtful. The closer we get to school starting the more doubtful it becomes. But it would've been really nice. 

As for the Honaker kids, I heard it was already shot down by Brent Roberts. The Honaker kids were not going to establish residency in Scott County, which by VHSL would make them ineligible to play. 

[Great City 210]

Well crap!

I was told the non-Honaker kid was still an option. Believe that kid is already living here....not sure if it is in Scott County or TN.

Hate to hear that about the Honaker kids, but if they did not establish residency in the county, Brent should have shot them down. Got to play by the rules. (We had a couple of TN kids want to come over and play football last year. Brent shot that down also.........no residency)

[TTownTigers 82]

14 hours ago, RiverRat24 said:

now that's what I like to see from Ervin.  if he gets some aggression about him in the paint and starts finishing strong around the rim it will be scary what he will do the next 2 years. I'd like to see more power plays from him around the rim to balance to out the touch he has from the perimeter.  He's gonna be a nightmare to stop.

He's taller in that video.  There is no question, he's gained an inch or two since last December. 

[RiverRat24 274]

16 minutes ago, TTownTigers said:

He's taller in that video.  There is no question, he's gained an inch or two since last December. 

I spoke with someone the other day that had seen him fairly recent and they claimed he had grown since his last game played in a GC uniform.  It will be interesting to see how much he has improved since his sophomore season.

[1inStripes 932]

The father of a GC basketball player who works with my dad said the family from Honaker was currently renting in Yuma. 

[Leatherhead Larry 530]

19 minutes ago, 1inStripes said:

The father of a GC basketball player who works with my dad said the family from Honaker was currently renting in Yuma. 

Works for me!