How good is North senior Bryan McCullough?
All you need to know is that he outpolled West’s Donte Minter this week for Rowan County boys basketball player of the year honors.
Minter, a 6-foot-7 junior who led the county in scoring (19.8 ppg), is headed for one of the greatest careers in county history. He’s already racked up 1,410 points and is well on his way to a rare 2,000-point career.
And yet this was clearly McCullough’s time. He hit the 1,000-point plateau and his team beat Minter’s three times, including the title game of the Sam Moir Christmas Classic, the county’s showcase event.
“I give all credit for this award to my teammates,” said McCullough. “It’s a great honor. It’s something I appreciate.”
Everyone appreciated McCullough as an excellent player his junior year. But it was clear from the outset of the 2000-01 season just how hard he had worked on his game during the long hot days of summer and fall. The long-armed leaper showed increased range on his shot, improved ballhandling skills, greater intensity and a heightened awareness of his leadership capabilities.
McCullough, 6-6, averaged 18.7 ppg on a a balanced team that boasted three other all-county seniors in guard Chris Phillips, forward Marcus Lawing and swingman Marcus Reddick.
“Bryan did all I could have asked,” said North coach Kelly Everhart, “both on an off the floor. The guys looked up to him. They loved him. He was always on time, always a leader.”
McCullough scored 20 or more points 14 times with a high of 26 against East. He was in double figures in 27 of 28 games, which says something about his consistency.
“I look at Bryan and I can’t help but think about much we’ll miss him,” said Everhart. “Those are big shoes to fill.”
McCullough has been selected to play in the North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star Classic in Rock Hill on March 24. He’s already being recruited by a number of colleges, but hopes the all-star game will open wider doors for him.
“A lot of coaches didn’t get a chance to see me during the high school season,” said McCullough. “So this is a chance for me to showcase my talents.”
The county coaches and five Post sportswriters who did the voting have already seen enough. That’s why McCullough is player of the year.
The four Cavs were joined on the all-county squad by South seniors Scott Beck and Doug Daugherty; Salisbury senior Randall Jones, runner-up to Minter in the scoring race; East seniors Justin Miller and Taylor Weber; and West senior Tim Mauldin and Falcon soph Junior Hairston.
McCullough, Minter and Weber are the only repeaters.
It may be the most veteran team ever with seniors claiming 10 of the 12 roster spots. (There are a dozen on the team because of a tie for the final berth.)
Only West’s Minter and Hairston will return next season, but that’s a good start on another stellar all-county squad.
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