McCoy realizing dream of playing at Division I level

<p><strong>A</strong>nderson McCoy wasn’t pursued by Division I college basketball programs during his high school career.</p><p>The 2015 Center Grove graduate decided that if he were to realize his dream of playing at that level, he would have to commit to a process while never losing faith in his skills, work ethic and, mostly, himself.</p><p>It hasn’t been easy, but McCoy, who turned 22 in September, is a reserve for the University of Alabama at Birmingham — more commonly known as UAB — which competes in Conference USA alongside schools such as Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky, Marshall and Southern Mississippi.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>McCoy, a 5-foot-11 guard, is a junior in terms of athletic eligibility after taking a medical redshirt during the 2017-18 season. The Blazers are 7-5 this season, with McCoy playing in eight of those games.</p><p>“I’m blessed to be playing at this level and to be doing what I’m doing,” McCoy said. “I always bet on myself. I have never doubted my abilities, and UAB gave me that chance.”</p><p>McCoy spent the first two years after high school playing at Ancilla College, a two-year junior college in northern Indiana. He averaged 9.2 points a game for the Chargers as a freshman and upped it to 9.5 a year later — hardly statistics that made him a highly coveted player.</p><p>UAB coach Robert Ehsan noticed McCoy’s intangibles and took a chance.</p><p>Unfortunately, McCoy’s career in a Blazers uniform was delayed after he sustained an injury during a practice leading up to the 2017-18 season. McCoy was attempting to take a charge when a teammate inadvertently drove his knee into McCoy’s right leg.</p><p>He was diagnosed with heterotopic ossification in which bone tissue forms outside the bones. It reduces one’s range of motion in the affected area, making it difficult for McCoy to run, jump and pivot. McCoy thought he suffered a charley horse, but X-rays revealed something more serious.</p><p>“It was almost like a lightning bolt hit the middle bottom quad muscle. It kind of split it down the middle,” said Bryan Koch, a Vincennes native who is assistant athletic director for sports medicine at UAB.</p><p>“The damage to that muscle was so extensive that it was difficult for Anderson to move his leg.”</p><p>McCoy committed to six months of rehabilitation under the watchful eye of Koch. The two initially worked through 90-minute sessions seven days a week for the first month before lowering it to 60-minute sessions five days a week.</p><p>“(Koch) told me at the beginning, ‘You’re not going to like me at the end of this,’” McCoy said with a laugh. “I talked to a lot of people for inspiration to keep me positive. My dad (Scott) and the rest of my family were a key part of it, along with my trainers and coaching staff.</p><p>“It was hard not to be playing. Pretty frustrating. But I knew it was a process to get there.”</p><p>Asked if McCoy did indeed hate him on particularly difficult days, Koch responded, “Oh, yeah. He hated me.”</p><p>The sessions allowed Koch to see the player’s willingness to do whatever was necessary to be able to contribute to the Blazers.</p><p>“I wish there were guys on this team who had his desire. With his heart, Anderson is just going to outwork everybody,” Koch said. “Being a great teammate helped him through.”</p><p>McCoy finished his rehabilitation in May and has since been part of UAB practices, games and other team activities. He’s scored a total of five points this season, but said putting the ball in the basket isn’t his main responsibility.</p><p>“Everyone wants to be on the court, but it’s knowing everyone has a role,” McCoy said. “I’m a defensive guy. My job is to provide energy. Every coach I’ve had has said that if you’re going to play Division I, you have to defend the ball.</p><p>“This year has gone a lot smoother than last year. We’ve got a great group of guys and great senior leaders. I like the route that we’re going.”</p>