TRACY McGRADY, HALF MAN HALF AMAZING

by.Kevin Liu

written 05/29/99

   Tracy McGrady was born in tiny Bartow, Florida on May 27, 1979.  Raised by his Mother Melanise, and his Grandmother Roberta, Tracy grew to know both women as "mom".  Tracy's hoops tale began in his Junior Year at Auburndale High.  He averaged 23.1 pts and 12.2 rebounds a game with the Bloodhounds his junior year.  But despite the great numbers, Tracy's name did not appear on any recruiting lists of Division 1 prospects.  Only schools that showed little interest in him were Florida and Miami. 

    Tracy didn't receive much guidance or discipline at home, and hung around the wrong people.  It was his attitude and lack of respect for others that was getting him nowhere in life.   THis is where Joel Hopkins comes in.  Hopkins, the basketball coach at Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina received a call about Tracy from Alvin Jones Jr, a basketball coach at Kathleen High, a neighboring High School to Auburndale High.  Hopkins drove down to Orlando to go to Disney World with his family, and he stopped in Auburndale to meet with Tracy and his "moms".  As Tracy walked in with Hopkins in the room, he had two earrings on, Hopkins then threatened to leave if they werent taken off.  Hopkins offered Tracy a scholarship to Mount Zion, on the ride back to Durham, Tracy was with Joel, heading to North Carolina.

    Tracy's one year stint at Mount Zion Christian academy had begun.  He led the Mighty Warriors to a 20-1 record, earning the spot as #2 in the nation in USA TODAY'S Super 25.   In his senior year he averaged a stellar 27.4 pts and 9.1 rebs per game.   STill, Tracy was still looking for a way to put himself on the map, to let the whole basketball world know who Tracy McGrady was.  He got his chance at the annual Adidas ABCD camp in Teaneck, New Jersey.  During the senior all-star game, he dribbled down the left wing on a fast break and found only James Felton, a 6'9 Blue Chipper from NJ commited to St Johns, between him and the basket.  Tracy went up, cupped the ball in his right hand and executed a windmill dunk over James.  He sent the whole gym in a frenzy.  He was quoted as saying- "After I made that Dunk, I had chills run through my body, Its like the moment I knew I had finally arrived".   The recruiting newsletter Hoop Scoop praised Tracy as "the sleeper of the decade".  After not being included in the top 500 prospects list before the summer, Tracy was ranked #2 behind Lamar Odom, a forward from Redemption Christian Academy. Tracy was then named the USA Today Player of the year.  He was even featured in a 3 page article in the February 10 1997 issue of Sports Illustrated.

    As Tracy was set to commit to Kentucky and Rick Pitino, Hopkins got a call from NBA Superscout Marty Blake asking for a schedule.  NBA Teams wanted to go out to Mount Zion and watch Tracy play.  He also guaranteed that Tracy would be a first round pick if he entered the NBA Draft that summer.  Tracy then made his decision, after taking advice from some such as Lamar Odom, who told Tracy "Youre the best high school player around, you need to go to the NBA", Tracy was going to enter the NBA Draft.  Many questioned Tracy's decision to leap to the NBA, but none doubted his talent and potential.

    Then came draft day, with question marks concerning when and Tracy would get drafted, the Toronto Raptors were on the clock and ready to make their pick at #9.  David Stern announced it, and indeed, Isiah Thomas and the Raptors had taken Tracy McGrady.  Basketball fans In Raptorland were all unsure of this pick, but I was excited.  With the Raptors coming off a successful season for a 3rd year team, things were looking good for Damon Stoudamire and the Raptors.  Then Isiah Thomas couldn't come up with the money to buy the team and things went downhill from there.  Tracy McGrady went unnoticed in the league for the first half of the season, not gettin the minutes from his coach, Darrell Walker, not even getting respect.  Walker was quoted as saying- "He'll be out of the league in 2 years, he has to learn to play hard at practice".  Tracy just couldnt take off under Darrell Walker's wings. Tracy was added to the all star rookie game roster for an injured Derek Anderson.  He had a great showing with 9 pts in 10 mins, including 2 emphatic dunks.  After 3/4 of the season, Darrell Walker was fired, partly for the team's record, partly for McGrady not getting minutes.  Things werent looking good for the Raptors, Damon was gone, Isiah was gone, Walker was gone.  Enter the Butch Carter ERA.  Under Carter, McGrady got the minutes, and he used them to his advantage.  Toronto saw what Tracy McGrady was all about in the final part of the season, Tracy started in the final 11 games.  In those 11 games he averaged 11.2 pts, and 8 rebs per game.

    Things were looking promising for Tracy and the Raptors going into the 98-99 season.  The Raptors drafted Tracy's cousin Vince Carter, and they were set to move into the new Air Canada Centre in February.  The Raptors had a breakthrough season, and so did Tracy.  He averaged 9.3 pts, 5.7 rebs in 22 mins of play.  The arrival of Vince Carter seems to have lifted Tracy to new heights.  Night in Night out Tracy and Cousin Vince never seem to disapoint the crowd with their amazing leaping ability and unbellieveable dunks.   McGrady is nominated for the Most Improved Player of the year award this year, which will most likely go to Orlando sixth man Darrell Armstrong.

    Tracy McGrady, simpy known as "T-mac" has come a long way from tiny Auburndale, Florida to here with the Toronto Raptors in the NBA.  He has a bright future, and loads of potential, its safe to say that he will be a superstar oneday here in the NBA.  The Raptors will rely on him and Vince Carter to carry this team into the next millenium, I dont know about other people, but I feel quite comfortable with them as the building blocks of this team.  

   Tracy McGrady, Half Man, Half Amazing.

Sources: NBA.com, Sports Illustrated(2/10/97)