SPENCER — Further proof that North Rowan’s 2001-02 boys basketball team was
one of the finest in county history arrived a few days ago.
North standouts will make up 20 percent of the West’s
10-man squad in July’s East-West All-Star Game that matches up the state’s
top recent graduates at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Cavs will be represented by
6-foot-6 forward Bryan McCullough (18.7 ppg) and 6-4 swingman Marcus Reddick
(13.4 ppg).
North coach Kelly Everhart was elated, but hardly
surprised when he got the news that two of his stalwarts are considered among
the West’s best.
“We coaches had the opportunity to nominate kids,”
he said. “Both our guys had good years and looking around the state, I
honestly didn’t see many folks who had better years. And it had to help that
we went 27-1. When you go 27-1, people figure you must have pretty good players.”
The record book indicates this year’s double-team
from North is rare, even though Howard West’s 4A state champion R.J. Reynolds
Demons also placed a pair of players on the West team — 6-2 UNC Charlotte
signee Mitchell Baldwin and 6-4 super-athlete Derrele Mitchell, who has inked a
football grant with Carolina.
North Rowan had enjoyed only two previous
representatives in the history of the contest which originated in 1949— Ralph
Kitley (1986) and Brian Page (1989).
In fact, the last time a Rowan County school had two
reps in the boys game was 1966 when Boyden’s Fred Cooke and Bill Gribble were
selected from coach Don Graham’s 16-7 squad.
McCullough, a UNC Asheville signee, has already
played in an all-star game in Rock Hill, which pitted North Carolina seniors
against their South Carolina counterparts. But Everhart says the East-West game
is the one McCullough had his heart set on.
“When I told Bryan he’d been chosen for the
East-West, he was real pumped up,” said Everhart. “He said, ‘All right!
This is the all-star game I really wanted.’ A lot of guys he knows from summer
ball have told him how much fun this game is.”
And Reddick?
“He didn’t say anything at all,” said
Everhart. “He just smiled really big.”
McCullough, in particular, will be counted upon by
West coach Brent Steelman (Elkin), because the East, led by Florida State signee
Anthony Richardson (Raleigh Leesville Road), will hold a considerable size
advantage.
“Hopefully,” said Everhart, “Bryan’s going
to get in there and really battle inside.”
McCullough’s future plans have already been mapped
out, but the game could be a career-changer for Reddick, who is surprisingly
still among the ranks of the undecided, despite having excellent grades, solid
scores on his college boards and a deadly jump shot.
Reddick is leaning toward D-II Winston-Salem State,
but in a showcase event like this, there’s always the chance that he can make
a favorable impression on other suitors.
“You never know,” said Everhart. “It’s an
opportunity for Marcus. Maybe some school had a kid who didn’t qualify on his
last chance at the SAT or someone who just didn’t get in. Or maybe some coach
that didn’t get a chance to see Marcus during the high school season is going
to see him in Greensboro for the first time.”
McCullough scored 1,058 points at North and is
eighth on the school career list. Reddick poured in 776 points and is No. 16
all-time. North rolled up a 63-19 mark in their three varsity seasons.
Interestingly, both players are sons of former Cav
stars. Reddick’s dad,Mason, averaged 14.6 ppg as a senior in 1974. McCullough’s
father, Kevin, put up 12.2 ppg in ‘79.
“These are good kids from good families who have
done a lot of good things for North Rowan,” said Everhart. “I know I’m
really looking forward to seeing them play one last high school game.”
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
.
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