(Pictured: Tony is currently playing professionally in Austria, where he plays for the club team Eurotech Baskets Feldkirch.)
"I can't say that I had a daily routine or a set amount of time that I spent practicing a day. When you love playing the game, it stops being work and just becomes a part of what you do and you don't pay attention to the time or hours you spend. Everything we did was always competitive, whether it was a 5 on 5 drill or a simple shooting game. If you can simulate game conditions as much as possible, you´ll be that much more ready when a real game situation arises."
Tony McCrory, '95' AAA MVP
(Picutred: Tony played 3 different positions while at SFU including the point guard spot. This versatility he possess has allowed him to flourish in the European style game.)
(Pictured: Tony led his team, the Ladysmith 49ers (only a AA school) to an unpredictable run to the AAA Championship. For the tournament, Tony averaged a gaudy 38.5 ppg, including a remarkable 48 point performance versus Richmond High in the quarter-finals. Tony still holds the AAA All-time record for points in a single tournament with 154 points. Here Tony takes the ball to the hoop while playin professionally for the club team Eurotech.)
TONY McCRORY - 1995 AAA MVP - LADYSMITH
49ERS
Our 4th Installment of Retro MVP features the 1995 AAA MVP, Tony McCrory. Tony will forever be remembered for putting together perhaps the greatest individual performance in the history of the AAA tournament in 1995. Tony led his team, the Ladysmith 49ers (only a AA school) to an unpredictable run to the AAA Championship by upsetting numerous teams including top ranked Richmond High. For the tournament, Tony averaged a gaudy 38.5 ppg, including a remarkable 48 point performance versus Richmond High in the quarter-finals. Tony still holds the AAA All-time record for points in a single tournament with 154 points and is among the career leaders in several other single-tournament statistics. After high school, Tony had a stellar four year career at Simon Fraser University where he played in the NAIA division and helped lead SFU to a 2nd place finish in their league in 1996-1997. As a senior, Tony averaged 13ppg, 6apg, 5rpg while spending some time at the starting point guard position. After playing at SFU, Tony took his game overseas to play professionally where he has been playing for the past several years.
Tony is currently playing professionally in Austria, where he plays for the club team Eurotech Baskets Feldkirch. We want to thank Tony for sharing his thoughts with DRIVE and wish him continued success with his basketball career abroad.
DRIVE: What is your greatest memory from High School?
TM: My greatest memory or memories from highschool would be winning the Junior championship with my Dad coaching, and then the AAA championship. Coming from a small town, it was great to come up a close group of guys and really grow together on and off the court. To win with those guys and also with the coaches that we had was a great feeling.
DRIVE: What was your daily basketball routine in High School? How much time did you spend practicing? What did your workouts consist of?
TM: I can't say that I had a daily routine or a set amount of time that I spent practicing a day. When you love playing the game, it stops being work and just becomes a part of what you do and you don't pay attention to the time or hours you spend. Everything we did was always competitive, whether it was a 5 on 5 drill or a simple shooting game. If you can simulate game conditions as much as possible, you´ll be that much more ready when a real game situation arises.
DRIVE: You played University ball at SFU (NAIA) at the time, what was the biggest difference between B.C. High School basketball and University?
TM: I think that the size of the players and the speed at which everyone plays can be the biggest adjustment for players coming out of highschool. I think this is why its important for highschool players to always try to find players who are better than them to play against. Wherever you are in BC you can always find someone who may be older or stronger for you to play against and improve.
DRIVE: You have been playing professionally overseas for many years, how much have you enjoyed the experience? Is playing professionally overseas something that B.C. High School players should consider and set their sights on?
TM: I´ve definitely enjoyed my overseas experience. Through basketball I´ve played and lived in England, Spain, Austria, and Belgium. I´ve made alot of friends, and been exposed to many different cultures and ways of looking at life. For players growing up in BC playing pro overseas can be a good option for after their university careers, not only for making money, but also to continue playing basketball and to travel and experience something different.
DRIVE: Who are some of the best player's you've faced and why?
TM: I´ve played against alot of great players both in Canada and overseas. But the one player that stands out was from when I was younger in Ladysmith. My highschool coach, Coach Steel, who won a national championship while at UVIC would play against us, and I think everyone who came up and played against him got better as a result. He would just play so hard every day he would make you play harder. You always went into a game knowing that you were prepared because no one was going to be a tougher matchup than you would get at home against Coach Steel.
DRIVE: What advice would you give young players growing up in B.C.?
TM: I would tell young players growing up in BC to surround themselves with positive people and friends. People who have goals and are working every day to achieve them. If you surround yourself with positive people you´re giving yourself a big advantage in life. Also I would tell young players to enjoy the game of basketball. When you love the game it becomes less like work and you start to really enjoy spending extra time working on your game and improving.
To see the 3rd installment of DRIVE's Retro MVP with Chad Clifford Click
here.
