Sherrill discusses old days at N.C. State
Former N.C. State star guard Scooter
Sherrill is one of those players you may not
think about until you see a Wolfpack basketball
game on ESPN Classic from a couple yean
ago. Then, you might begin to wonder what
he's doing nowadays.
Sherrill is presently doing his thing over
seas, playing last season in a basketball league
in Poland He's still hoping to get into the
NBA, though. An injury his senior year
seemed to have slowed his process down.
Coming out of high school, anyone would tell
you Sherrill was on his way to the league. 1
mean. Scooter was a McDonald's All
American with guys like Zach Randolph. Jared
Jeffries, Chris Duhon, Gerald Wallace. Luke
Ridnour and Darius Miles. They're all in the
NBA now.
Some of you may remember his West
Rowan team that lost a state championship
game to Cliff Crawford and Danny Gathings
when they were at Parkland. Scooter still did
his thing. Personally, i always think about the
game where Sherrill shut down Justin Gray in
the second half of a game to help erase a 1 6
point Wake halftime lead. J-Gray only scored 2
points in the second half, and N.C. State won.
1 called Scooter up this week to find out
what's new. Find out what Scoot had to tell me
during a conversation on Tuesday.
Anthony: What's good, Scoot?
Scooter: Nothing, man. Chillin.' Same
ole, same ole. Just trying to make it.
Anthony: What's been going on with you
this summer?
Scooter: Ah man, just a lot of basketball.
I'm constantly in the gym. I'm just constantly
trying to get better. Trying to stay working.
Anthony: Are you playing in any summer
leagues this year?
Scooter: Uh, I'm on some rosters and
everything. But, personally ? if it's not the
summer league I want to do, which is the NBA
Summer League, I'm not really trying to do it.
I've just been doing a lot of individual stuff. I
did go to a
few summer
leagues and
play. But
nothing like
that.
Anthony:
Speaking of
the NBA.
How disap
pointing were
you when you
didn't make it straight out of college?
Scooter: Uh, you know there were some
mixed emotions. 1 didn't really have the oppor
tunity to do anything that summer. I got hurt
during one of my last games during my senior
year. When other seniors were working out for
scouts. I was sitting at home trying to rehab. It
was disappointing in a way. But I know 1
haven't had the opportunity yet. 1 haven't
given up on it yet. The sky is the limit when I
get the opportunity.
Anthony: But it's so hard for guards to
slip in the NBA, especially from overseas.
Scooter: It is. It is. Guards arc a dime a
dozen, ya know. There's guards everywhere,
man. It's a challenge. But I'm just looking for
ward to the opportunity to show what I can do.
Anthony: How much fun are you having
overseas, though?
Scooter: I'm having fun. It's cool because
you get to see the world and get paid for it. A
lot of people really don't have that chance. I'm
just trying to see the world. I'm also trying to
stay focused on what I've got to do. Like I
said, my ultimate goal was to make it to the
NBA. I'd much rather be playing in that
league. But it is what it is. I'm just trying to
make the best out of my situation.
Anthony: How do you keep a humble atti
tude when you go overseas, though?
Everybody thinks they have NBA talent. How
do you maintain a humble attitude when you
go over there?
Scooter: There's really a lot of great play
ers out there. Every time you step on the court
you're facing a great player. There's other
Americans that work just as hard. You just
have to stay focused. I know I have NBA tal
ent, but there's good basketball over there.
Anthony: Do you think it's time for EA!
Sports to produce an overseas basketball
game?
Scooter: Hey, that would be nice. Take it
to another level, ya know. That would be nice.
Anthony: How much do you remember
your days at West Rowan?
Scooter: I will never forget those days.
People never let you forget high school. And,
my parents still live in the same area as my
high school. (Laughs.) I relive high school
everyday. I always see someone I went to high
school with.
Anthony: (Smiles.) No one can forget you
around there. You were that guy back then.
Here,
basketball league. H
Scooter: Yeah, high school was good.
? Anthony: Didn't you all lose to Parkland
when you were in high school?
Scooter: We lost to them my sophomore
year. I will never forget that game. Parkland
had a good team. We had a good team as well.
That's something I will never forget because 1
still see Cliff Crawford all of the time. He's in
Raleigh. I go up there to work out every now
and then. Cliff still wears his ring. (Both
laugh.) It's funny because I just saw Cliff the
other day. He was playing ball and I saw his
ring on the sideline. I'm like, "I know this is
not Cliff's ring." All these years and he's still
wearing that ring. He'll never let me forget that
game.
Anthony: Let me ask you this. Did you
ever think about transferring from N.C. State?
Personally, I didn't like you in (Herb) Sendek's
system.
One-on-One
with \ntlwny llill
Scooter: I
did. But 1 do
not regret
going to N.C.
State. I got a
good educa
tion. and went
to an ACC
school for free.
My parents got
to come see me
play. Looking
back. I wish I
were in a better system. When I first gqt there
we were in a different system. We were run
ning. They changed it up my sophomore year.
But I didn't transfer because 1 always thought
next year was going to be better.
Anthony: What's your most memorable
moment?
Scooter: There was so many memorable
moments. Everyday was fun. There's nothing
like college. Probably my most memorable
moment was probably beating North Carolina
my junior year at Carolina. 1 was the player of
the game.
Anthony: What was the last movie you
enjoyed?
Scooter: I don't know. I love movies,
especially being overseas. That's all you can
do. I rented Braveheart while I was in Poland.
I've seen it a million times, but it's my
favorite.
Anthony: OK. What was the last CD you
got? '
Scooter: I got the T.I. and Lil Wayne.
(Laughs.) I got the bootleg Lil Wayne.
Anthony: You got to tell ya boy about the
women over there (overseas). (Smiles.) It
looks like you're getting major love from them
nowadays.
Scooter: It's crazy over there. The women
love Americans over there. I've had a girl
friend the whole time I've been there. So I'm
like, "Hey, how you doing." I'm low key. But
they love Americans, especially brothers. They
approach us. There's a lot of love over there.
We really get NBA treatment over there.
Anthony: Let's finish with free associa
tion.
Scooter: OK.
Anthony: Scooter Sherri 11.
Scooter: Persistent.
Anthony: Cliff Crawford
Scooter: Crazy dude. (Both laugh.) In a
good way.
Anthony: I got you. Um, N.C. State.
Scooter: Great school.
Anthony: Danny Gathings.
Scooter: Athlete.
Anthony: North Carolina (the state).
Scooter: Best state.
^ Anthony: Favorite food.
Scooter: Steak.
Anthony: And, Kobe Bryant.
Scooter: Best player in the league .
Icon Spixts Media Photo
Scooter Sherrill on the court during his days at North Carolina State. Sherrill played his high school ball eU
West Rowan High.
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