McCormacks Long Journey Ends with a Division I Scholarship
It was three years ago that Simon McCormack transferred from his hometown high school in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Northfield Mount Hermon. And despite the fact that he had a successful first two years at the class A prep school, at this time last year it looked like his dreams of playing division I basketball were possibly in jeopardy.
It was also at this time a year ago that it became official that longtime NMH Assistant Coach John Carroll would be taking over the reigns of the program the following year. Carroll quickly developed a plan to help his guard get back into the division I picture…he would turn him into a point guard.
Despite a terrific knack for getting to the rim, many college coaches were concerned that McCormack couldn’t cut it against other prospects at the wing because of his inconsistent perimeter jumper. However, if he could learn to play the point, he would have a clear advantage over the competition thanks to his size and strength.
The results couldn’t have been better, as neither Carroll nor McCormack could have predicted how easily he would make the transition. While he certainly had some ups and downs this season, there were clearly many more highs than lows, as he proved to college coaches he could run a team at the next level.
“Everyone saw him as a 3 last year,” said Carroll. “But we decided to try to make him into a point, and he turned out to be a natural.”
While both player and coach concede many college coaches were skeptical at first, as the year went on, more and more coaches began to realize that McCormack could not only play the position, but also excel there.
“All the work he has put in over the last three years has come together this spring,” said Carroll. “We have had a lot of coaches in our gym since the end of the season, and Simon has been killing it every day.”
And while the journey to his division I scholarship was certainly a long and windy road, McCormack claims he wouldn’t change a thing.
“Now that it is over, I’m happy it dragged on for as long as it did. I had a lot of people telling me I couldn’t do this, and that forced me to bring my work ethic to a new level. That is only going to help me in the future.”
McCormack’s immediate future may hold an opportunity to contend for a birth in the NCAA Tournament. American returns 9 upperclassmen next season, including the reigning Patriot League player of the year in rising senior point guard Derrick Mercer.
“It is a great situation for me because I can go in and learn from him [Mercer] and get another year under my belt playing the point,” said McCormack. “The coaches told me the ball would be in my hands in my sophomore year, and I think I’ll be ready to have a big impact.”
McCormack’s current coach couldn’t agree more.
“He’s the best kid I’ve ever coached,” said Carroll. “He’ll make an immediate impact on the court and in the community, and in four years I’m sure he will be American’s captain.”
As for NMH, McCormack’s commitment caps what has to be one of the best academic recruiting classes of any school in the country. Consider this…the NMH basketball program is sending student athletes to Harvard, M.I.T., Dartmouth (two of them), Lafayette, Trinity College, and American next year. Pretty impressive!
Simon McCormack