Ellijay’s Jackson McVey has begun the next chapter of his basketball saga.
He started at Gilmer High where he helped the Bobcats to its only region championship and three trips to the state tournament while hauling in a trove of school records.
Following his all-state junior season, McVey moved on to Overtime Elite (OTE) in Atlanta where he was engulfed in a basketball environment. He departed that program in the spring, and now resides in Athens as he continues his maturation at the University of Georgia.
“To succeed at the next level of basketball, you have to do the little things. You have to take the extra step and go the extra mile because there are a bunch of people who are good and the only way you can separate yourself is if you do those little extra things,” said McVey of his time at OTE, which is a nine-team league for 16 to 20-year-olds.
“I think OTE did a good job of showing us how to make a structured schedule. They really made it like college in a sense. Now after being at UGA, I can vouch for that. They made sure we were everywhere we needed to be and had good weight training and nutrition programs. I had specific workouts for me. There were a lot of things that were tailored to me as a player and it really helped prepare me.”
McVey, who is 7’1” and 240 pounds, played for OTE’s Real Wild Energy (RWE) while also taking accredited coursework in the classroom. Players from all teams stay on OTE’s campus and all games are played at OTE Arena.
McVey was on the court for 19.7 minutes per game and RWE was 14-6 in the regular season. He averaged 9.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. In three playoff games, he tallied 10 points, six rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and RWE ended the season in third place. His season high for scoring was a 19-point performance, and he pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds in another game. For the season, he turned in three double-doubles.
McVey continued to work with OTE’s staff into May and he reported to UGA June 1 where he arrived as the No. 26 ranked center in the country, according to ESPN.
“I was here all summer, and it was good to get here early before a ton of people flooded the campus. That time was good for me,” McVey said.
Much of those summer months were spent getting acclimated to the rigors and demands of collegiate basketball’s highest level.
“We were trying to get me adjusted to the speed of the game and get my physicality adjusted to the college level,” McVey said. “Even at OTE, you’re playing against high-skill players. But here, you’re playing against grown men. The summer months were a little harder for me, but they definitely stuck with me and made me an emphasis. I worked on my shooting and we spent a lot of time in the weight room. Those months were used to prep me for college more than OTE did.”
McVey’s typical day starts with a lifting session at 7:50 a.m. Following two classes, he’s in the gym for a skill session and also has a mentoring session to make sure his academics are squared away. Next, is the full-team practice, and he is typically off the court by 6 p.m.
“It was definitely something at first balancing school, basketball and my social life. I think I’m starting to hit my stride and have a really nice handle on things,” McVey said.
“Over the past year, the fundamentals and strength aspects, my touch and more showy moves have been good. After being at OTE for a year and being here, I’ve gotten to where I worry more about rebounding and boxing out, posting up, guarding and moving my feet. I’ve just been doing the dirty work and the stuff you don’t need to focus as much on at a smaller level. You can kind of get away with missing a few steps, but here you really can’t.”
As his game continues to blossom, McVey hopes to display more of his shooting skills and ability to stretch the floor. At practice he tests his mettle daily against the likes of Somto Cyril, who is a 6’11”, 260-pound sophomore, as well as redshirt junior Jaden Newell (6’8”, 225) and freshman Kareem Stagg (6’8”, 230).
“I’m banging with these really tough dudes every day,” McVey said. “It definitely takes a toll on my body, but I’ve definitely gotten used to it and I think this year has been good for prep for the future. The coaches have been very encouraging.
“The speed and strength at this level is night and day. From Gilmer to OTE was a big jump, and from OTE to here it might be even bigger.”
In recent seasons, UGA has run a two-center system, but with a guard heavy lineup this year, the Dawgs plan to go with one center on the court. This change has greatly altered McVey’s minutes. Appearing in just one game exhausts a year of eligibility,
and they have opted to redshirt him this season, according to dad Patrick McVey.
This will give McVey another year of development and allow him to retain four years of eligibility. He will continue to sharpen his game on the scout team and face UGA’s starting lineup everyday at practice.
McVey said he is prepared to keep working to develop so he is ready when called upon.
UGA is 3-0 so far this season with three lopsided wins. The Dawgs take on rival Georgia Tech Friday in Athens.
“I really am happy with the environment over here. It’s not like Ellijay, but it still feels like home in a way,” McVey said. “A lot of my buddies come over here because it’s a short drive from home so I still get to see my friends. It feels good here, and I’m starting to meet new people. The team feels good and all around this is a really good fit for my life right now.
“This is a blessing. I know I have a big responsibility to perform at this level, and I’m really working hard. I still have a ways to go to be a top dog at this level. But I think my game is starting to show and I’m starting to show flashes of what I can be at some point. It’s really cool to be at this level and I’m looking forward to growing and becoming an even better player one day.”