By Bill Alden
After starring for the North Brunswick High boys’ basketball team, Brandon McCain emerged as a key performer last winter in his freshman season for the Mercer County Community College men’s program.
McCain, a 6’3 guard, averaged 10.7 points a game for MCCC, helping the Vikings go 13-14.
Reflecting on his debut campaign for the Vikings, McCain developed well on and off the court.
“It has been amazing,” said McCain. “I have played some good competition and made some good friends.”
McCain thrived under the tutelage of MCCC head coach Howard Levy, a former Princeton University men’s hoops star and assistant coach.
“He is a good coach,” said McCain. “He is a tough guy, he gets us going.”
This summer, the MCCC players looked to toughen themselves up by entering the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League as the “Play Smart” team.
“It is good competition,” said McCain, reflecting on Play Smart joining the league this summer. “It is get some learning experiences and get the young guys going. It is our first time in a league like this.”
Last Wednesday, as Play Smart faced two-time defending league champions Princeton Supply, it was looking to bounce back from a 76-56 loss to YSU two days earlier.
“Coming into tonight, we were looking to finish what we have to do,” said McCain. “It was play defense, play together, and move the ball around.”
Play Smart trailed Princeton Supply 30-29 at halftime as McCain helped keep the squad close with a team-high nine points.
“At the beginning on the first half we weren’t there with them mentally,” said McCain. “I was feeling it but I wanted to get my teammates going. As soon as the second half started, we got prepared.”
Down 50-49 with 4:26 left in regulation, Play Smart got going down the stretch, producing a 11-7 run to pull out a 60-57 victory.
In assessing the win, which improved Play Smart to 2-1 this summer, McCain saw the triumph as a good step forward.
“It was pretty much hustle honestly, getting rebounds, communicating with our teammates and stuff like that,” said McCain, who totaled 12 points in the win with Jacob McCollum leading the way for Play Smart with 13. “It is definitely a confidence builder for sure. As a young team, we have to get more time together.”
While McCain was happy with his offensive production, he was more intent on facilitating things for Play Smart.
“I see my role as communicating with my teammates and being a leader,” said McCain. “I am focusing more on uplifting other people and just helping out.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the summer, McCain believes that playing in the league will help Play Smart get in synch as it looks ahead to its campaign this winter with MCCC.
“I want us to play together and play as a team,” said McCain. “I want to make sure that everybody gets the ball and that we are sharing.”