Sports
McCloud signs with Bismarck State
Tyler Ohmann
05/01/2012
Last Wednesday marked what Justin McCloud hopes is the first step to one day playing at the highest level of college basketball.
McCloud, a Bottineau High School senior, signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Bismarck State College for the 2012-13 season.
“I feel like they (BSC) were the best fit for me,” McCloud said. “I like their style. They put up a lot of threes and run, so I think I’ll be able to fit in good there.”
BSC head basketball coach Jason Harris feels the same way about McCloud’s style fitting in with the Mystics.
“The biggest thing is the way that he can score the basketball,” Harris said. “We have a very up-tempo game, we averaged 93 points a game, and to play that type of ball you have to have guys who can score, and Justin can definitely do that.”
McCloud, who averaged 24.3 points and 7.1 rebounds as Bottineau’s point guard during his senior campaign will play shooting guard at BSC.
The Mystics, who will move up to the Division I junior college ranks, made it to the Division II junior college National Tournament last season.
“Justin is going to be a huge part of the plan, yeah, we had a good year, making a trip to National’s, but as junior school you have to try and get better every year with a quick turn around,” Harris said. “So you have to go and get the best kids you can for your program, and Justin we targeted pretty hard as one of our top recruits, and we’re very happy to see him play for us.”
McCloud said the decision was not easy, but that he saw BSC as his best shot to further his career.
“It was definitely a hard decision, there were a few four-years, MSU, South Dakota Mines and NDSU just contacted me to maybe walk on, but I didn’t think that was in my best interest right now,” McCloud said. “Out of the junior colleges in the state I felt like Bismarck had the best to offer.”
The 6-foot, three inch McCloud felt he could compete at the NCAA Division II level right away, but wanted to make sure he saw the court.
“I know the games going to get a lot faster, and I’ve had a chance to see them play and even the higher levels like D-II play,” McCloud said. “I think I’m ready right now to play at the division II, but my ultimate goal is to play D-I, and if that does or doesn’t happen I don’t know yet, it will depend on how hard I work and play at BSC.”
Another factor in McCloud’s decision was proximity to home. Playing for the Mystics means getting to come back next fall and play against Dakota College at Bottineau in the Kevin Thom Classic, and potentially during the MonDak Conference schedule as well.
“That was definitely a big factor, and it wouldn’t have mattered if I would have played far, but it will be nice to have people I know be able to come and watch,” McCloud said. “Playing at Bismarck we do fortunately get to play up here (in Bottineau), and hopefully it’ll bring in a few more fans, and even though I’m playing for Bismarck they’ll still cheer me on.”
McCloud plans on hanging around Bottineau over the summer, but he said he will make a trip or two to meet up with his new teammates too.
“I might go to a couple camps and stuff like that, but I’m just going to lift and go to the gym mostly,” McCloud said. “I’ll probably go down to Bismarck for a week or two weeks and play with the guys.”
The senior also has to shift his focus to baseball, where he is a key part to a Braves baseball team that is currently undefeated, and is looking to make a third consecutive trip to state.
As for basketball, McCloud said he will try his best this season in Bismarck and go from there.
“I just want to compete as well as I can, and if the first year doesn’t go well I can always come back to Bottineau or even move on if I have a good year,” McCloud said. “I just wanted to be able to see the court in my first couple years, and then hopefully get some offers from some bigger schools.”
McCloud is the second all-time scorer in BHS history, he also set the record for points scored in a season during his senior year, where he led the Braves to a Region 6 runner-up finish.