Former Raider McCrary returns to the court

Published in a November issue of The Madison County Journal. www.mainstreetnews.com

By Dallas Bordon

dallasb32@yahoo.com

Madison County’s Patrick McCrary is making an impact for the Emmanuel College Lions basketball team. A 2010 graduate of Madison County High School and former Raider basketball and football standout, McCrary has led the Emmanuel Lions to a 2-0 start and is averaging 17.5 points and 10 rebounds a game.

McCrary, who is in his second season with the Lions, suffered a wrist injury this past February that sidelined him for the conference and NCCAA championship tournaments. “It was an experience I’ll never forget,” said McCrary. “All I wanted to do was get back up and continue playing but I knew what the injury meant; missing the conference and NCCAA tournaments.” McCrary was injured while attempting a breakaway dunk following a steal just weeks before the Lions started tournament play. While going up for the dunk, McCrary was fouled causing him to dislocate his wrist against the backboard and then breaking the wrist in four places trying to brace himself on the fall. The injury required surgery, but McCrary has made an amazing comeback. “He made an unbelievable recovery from a devastating arm injury,” said Lions coach and former Oconee County standout T.J. Rosene. “I really worried that it would affect his aggressiveness, but it has not in the least.”

The injury took nearly 6 months to completely heal, but McCrary claims it changed the way he plays the game. “I was able to mentally understand the game better being away for so long and it made me a stronger player,” said McCrary. Patrick remembers his coach jokingly telling him that he’s a warrior but wishes it would have been his other wrist so he could become a better shooter. McCrary states that he appreciates his relationship with coach Rosene. “Coach Rosene told me that if your dreams are bigger than those around you then your life should look significantly different. That truly hit me because I had dreams of being freshman of the year when I got to Emmanuel, but ended up making the All Freshman First Team which was truly an honor,” said McCrary. “Patrick is one of the finest young men I have ever coached. He is very much an undersized post at our level, but has already been able to accomplish great things,” said Rosene who is in his 6^th year at Emmanuel. “Pat has been a great Christian example both on and off the court.”