McCain is a winner
Want to know what makes new Duke commitment Jared McCain special? It’s that he’s simply a winner that does whatever is needed to win.
Look, Jon Scheyer, we get it. You’ve proven that Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement won’t have a negative impact on Duke’s ability to sign the top recruits.
You went out and signed the top recruiting class in the United States for next season. And the junior class, right behind them, may be just as good.
With elite floor general Caleb Foster already onboard and high-flying forward Sean Stewart right behind him, you showed us that you weren’t messing around for your second class either.
Now, you’ve added a third blue-chipper to that haul with Jared McCain from Centennial High School in Corona, Calif.
And yes, he’s really talented, too. He’s the No. 23 rated junior in America, according to 247 Sports.
Bull City Hoops spoke candidly to Josh Giles, his head coach, about his 11th grade star. And he didn’t mince words.
“I played with Casey Jacobson back in high school and Jared McCain, just like Casey, is a pro,” said Giles. “It all started here when he was a freshman. You could just tell this kid would be special when he was 15. His commitment that he showed to doing things the right way. The way that he trained, the way he worked, the way he focused.
“He’s a kid who will outwork everyone in the gym. He just really got it at such a young age. He’s so grounded and such a good person. I think the greatest compliment that you can ever give a kid is that he’s a winner. Jared does whatever he needs to do to win.”
Want an example? How about when McCain scored 30 points in the state semifinals. And in the finals, he was double-teamed every time he touched the ball.
“Every time he got the ball, they ran a second defender at him,” recalled Giles.
“They did everything they could to get the ball out of his hands. So what did he do? He found another way to beat them. He only had 10 points that game but he went in there and got us 14 rebounds. He will find another way to beat you if you take something away.”
Jon Scheyer and the Duke assistants had to work hard to win over the combo-guard from Southern California. Three teams in the Sweet 16 were on him hard: Houston, Gonzaga and UCLA, who came on later. But the Blue Devils won him over on his official visit.
“Duke is Duke. I think once Duke started recruiting him, (they were tough to beat) said Giles. “Just the idea that this is Duke. It’s the mecca. Duke made him a priority. On the visit he just fell in love.”
As for what position he’ll ultimately play at Duke? His coach uses him at the one, two or three. His star is currently 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds.
“He is so strong and he’s the type of kid who you have to watch in the weight room, because he can put on size and muscle so quick. He’s got the ability to do whatever. He can play the one, the two, the three. He’s just a basketball player. And one that you really can’t pigeon hole.”