By Quintin Harlan, Herald Bulletin Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH — Like many college basketball players, Highland alumnus Gary McGhee knows that looking too far ahead can lead to an undesired result. In the NCAA men’s basketball tournament the cliché of “take ’em one game at a time” is scripture, not just a friendly suggestion.
But with the 2010 Final Four taking place in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, it would be understandable if Pittsburgh’s Gary McGhee was contemplating possible travel plans to his home state for the weekend of April 3.
“Our first goal is to take care of Oakland,” McGhee said Wednesday in a phone interview. “But I just want us to keep winning and come home.”
Now a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, McGhee is the starting center for the Panthers.
The Panthers (24-8) have the No. 3 seed in the West Region and will face No. 14 seed Oakland University (26-8) in Milwaukee at 2:55 p.m. on Friday.
The former Highland Scots standout has started all 32 games this season for the Panthers, and while his averages are modest at 7 points and 7 rebounds a night, his contributions to the Panthers have been felt this year.
Pitt finished the season with a field goal percentage allowed of 40 percent, which was tops in the Big East. McGhee led the Panthers in rebounding in 13 of 32 games, with a high 12 boards against West Virginia.
Last season McGhee saw action in 31 of 36 games and won the coaches award at the team’s postseason awards banquet. When junior All-American DeJuan Blair made his intentions to enter the NBA draft known, McGhee knew an opportunity had presented itself to him and that the hard work that he’d put in to get to Pittsburgh was just beginning.
“This summer I dedicated myself to getting better and better every day,” said McGhee. “When I knew DeJuan was leaving, I knew I was finally going to get my opportunity (to start). I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve gotten.”
That hard work includes being up at the crack of dawn and hitting the weight room and then heading to the court and hoisting 200 jump-hooks with each hand.
The 6-foot-10 250-pounder has gone up against some of the best big men in the country this season — like Texas’ Dexter Pittman and Georgetown’s Greg Monroe — and has more than held his own, a fact that can be attributed to the daily battles that were Pitt’s practices last year where McGhee went head-to-head with Blair.
“The whole Big East has tough big men,” said McGhee. “I played against Pittman and Monroe. And going against DeJuan (last year), it was a battle every day to keep him off the boards; it made me tougher and prepared me for this year.
When asked for a favorite game this season, McGhee pointed to the Panthers’ triple-overtime victory over West Virginia on Feb. 12.
“We were down six with 34 seconds (in regulation) and we tied it,” said McGhee. “Then we hit our free throws to win it.”
McGhee hasn’t been all work and no play, though.
When not grabbing rebounds or throwing down a slam dunk, McGhee and his teammates can be found enjoying each other’s company in one of two ways: either at a bowling alley or playing video games.
“I’m not the worst bowler but I’m not the best. I’m somewhere in the middle,” said McGhee. “We usually play the sports (video) games like Madden or NBA2K.”
McGhee has also been keeping tabs on the future of his former high school.
His sister Mariah is a student at Highland and phone calls and e-mails to and from home have kept Gary in the loop.
“It’s sad that Highland’s closing down,” said McGhee. “But maybe it can be a positive and bring the community together. On the basketball side of things, maybe (the consolidation) can help the basketball team be more competitive in the state tournament.”
While McGhee’s basketball goals are short-term, his overall goal for his time at Pittsburgh remains on target.
“I’ve got to get my degree, I promised my mom and dad that I would,” said McGhee, who majors in communications. “I just want to keep working hard and see where it takes me.”
