Boys basketball: Bowman’s McCormick making a name for himself

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Eagles shooting guard Carlos McCormick, a senior, is photographed Wednesday February 1, 2012 at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary, Ind. McCormick has been averaging 12 points, three assists and three rebounds for the Eagles this year. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 4, 2012 8:16AM

GARY — It’s not hard to get lost in the forest of mega talented players at Bowman.

Marvin Rea has 43 kids in three programs — 13 on varsity. Almost all of them could start somewhere and all play. Many will play basketball in college and some have already inked Division-I scholarships.

DeJuan Marrero is going to DePaul, Elijah Hawkins is headed to IUPUI and Stephan Hawkins scored a scholarship to Robert Morris, even though he only played his junior year.

So for soft-spoken Carlos McCormick, a wide receiver on the football team, the dose of notoriety that is bubbling up about his play means something.

In one sense, it’s easy to be good for the Eagles because they have so many good players who are compelled to be unselfish. By definition, the good players create opportunities for the role players.

Sometimes, though, it’s hard to get noticed through all the trees and the grinder of a schedule that the Eagles play.

McCormick, a 5-10 guard, has created a name for himself lately.

“He has really adjusted to our style of play,” Rea said. “He has been very consistent. One of the highlights of our team is our guard play.”

If Rea had one nagging complaint about last year’s team, which lost to Morgan Township in the sectional championship, it was its guard play, which was inconsistent.

The Eagles have always been good up front with the 6-foot-6 Marerro leading the charge.

They were great in the back-court in 2010 with Tyrae Robinson, now at Ball State, playing point guard.

With Mike Ford playing point guard and McCormick playing at the two-guard position, the Eagles have a combination that puts them back in the same discussion as the 2010 team.

For McCormick, getting acclimated took a year. He transferred in from Michigan City last season after playing for the Wolves his first two years.

There were two areas of adjustment for McCormick. At Michigan City, the offense was less spontaneous and predicated more on a half-court, passing style.

The Wolves were also more of a physical, half-court defensive team.

Bowman traps and presses on every possession and the Eagles play as fast as possible on both ends of the court. Rea likes everything to be fast, including the offense.

McCormick has always loved playing the pressure defense and he considers himself a defensive player.

Shooting on command has been an issue.

Rea said McCormick can shoot the 3-pointer like its “no one’s business” but he doesn’t always like to shoot it. Rea wants him to shoot it because teams will sag inside to try to take away Marrero and Hawkins, who is 6-10.

Rea has had to urge McCormick to shoot the ball, knowing that is one of his strengths. McCormick, who is averaging 12 points, three rebounds and three assists per game, has made 40 percent of his 3-point shots.

Rea said McCormick gets “down on himself” when he misses too many shots. He has had to give him pep talks about firing away.

Said McCormick: “I feel like I let my teammates down when I miss too many shots.”

McCormick overcame his crisis of confidence with big games against North Central, when he scored 22 points and made 6-of-11 3-pointers and when he finished with 24 against Lawrence Center, making 5-of-11 from 3-point range.

It’s that kind of play, along with the return of Elijah Ray, who missed the first part of the season with a high ankle sprain, that has the Eagles quietly confident about the tournament.

A Gary resident, he had been in the Michigan City school system through his sophomore season. He left Michigan City partially because he believes the Eagles have a chance to win another title.

“I want a ring before I go to college,” he said.