Focus for Catholic High’s Tate McCurry on leading team to another Division I State Title, not college future

by: William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

Catholic High’s Tate McCurry was hunched over, grabbing at his shorts in exhaustion from a workout with a personal trainer. 

It was among the compacted days of work McCurry stacked on top of one another in his pursuit of gaining a foothold on the basketball court. His dream began as a 5-year-old, grew traction in the seventh grade, and blossomed after his first trip to a New Orleans Pelicans game where he first witnessed the greatness of Golden State guard Steph Curry. 

McCurry was hooked and embraced the arduous process it would take to get to such a level of play. The endless hours on the court, exposing himself to higher levels of competition, along with time in the weight room were part of the price he was willing to pay.

McCurry sat in his team’s joyous locker room three years ago in Lake Charles’ Burton Coliseum, sweat still pouring down his face and body. He was completely spent after the Bears had become the first team in school history to win a Division I select state championship on March 11. 

A photo captured McCurry’s postgame exhilaration, complete with tears of joy streaming down his face, and his personal trainer later positioned that picture alongside a similar pose following a workout that left him totally drained. 

“All of the hard work that we put in, it paid off,” McCurry said of the 2022-23 state championship. “One of my trainers put a picture of me crying side by side with the one of me training. It was to show that hard work pays off. I’m willing to do whatever to get to the top.”

The 6-foot-3 McCurry, a combination guard, is once again one of Catholic High’s featured attractions on a team with high aspirations.

A season following a second-round exit from the playoffs and a rare losing record, the Bears are back and better than ever with McCurry leading a veteran team (26-1) ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 78 nationally by MaxPreps. They’re also the top-rated team in Division I select with seven games remaining in the regular season including a home game Monday against Division II power Madison Prep Academy at approximately 7:15 p.m.

“This is a mature group, a phenomenal group of young men,” said fourth-year coach Derrick Jones, an alumnus of the school. “This is the best team that Catholic High’s ever had. I don’t care what happens from this point. I’ve been affiliated with Catholic High since 1992. 

“I was an eighth grader when (Jonathan) Pixley’s group were seniors, went 32-0 and lost to John Ehret in the semifinals,” Jones said. “That team was really good, but this team is better. That team was about six deep with really good players. This team’s 10-12 deep with really good players.”

Catholic’s piled up the aforementioned credentials without one of its top players in Jones’ son, senior guard Nico. A torn ACL suffered in the team’s final game of summer league sidelined Jones, forcing him into a role of support of his teammates.

McCurry grew up playing against Nico Jones in middle school before forging their talents when Jones’ father moved from Port Allen to Catholic High four years ago. They became immediate starters as freshmen, a scenario almost unheard of at the Class 5A level and the two have combined with a talented group of players to help raise the profile of the school’s program.

“I expected us to be one of the top teams in the state this year,” McCurry, who has scored 1,750 points and averaged 13.6 points over four seasons. “We had a losing record last year. It was a really tough year. In the summer, we may have lost one game. Then Nico went down, and he felt like he did something wrong and let the team down. He still has a big role on this team.”

Striking gold as a sophomore

McCurry’s investment in becoming one of the state’s top players has often come at his own expense on his journey, often facing older, more talented players along the way.

In order to reach a level where he wanted to compete, McCurry was willing to put himself in vulnerable positions against top-level players. He may have gotten beat on defense or gotten stripped or double-teamed on offense, but the negative results only fueled his desire.

“At a young age he was a three-level scorer,” coach Jones said. “He could get to the basket. He was athletic. He could shoot the basketball. He wasn’t as good a shooter as he is now. He worked really hard to become a consistent shooter. He was a passionate, tough kid. You could tell he loved the game.

“He’s never talked back, and I coach him as hard as I coach everybody else,” Jones said. “You could tell from Day 1, he wanted to be great, and he’s been a special player for us.”

When McCurry trained with former Dunham state championship coach Jonathan Pixley, something he still does, he had the opportunity after his freshman season to play against such seasoned veterans as Walker’s Jalen Cook, who went on to play at Tulane and LSU, and former Dunham standout Jordan Wright, who played for both Vanderbilt and LSU and former Dunham standout Shad Levy.

“On defense, they’re either getting right past me or put a shoulder into me, and I went flying,” McCurry said. “I really took pride in the weight room. I tried to move my feet. I watched YouTube clips of (former Boston Celtics first-round pick) Marcus Smart, seeing what he did on defense. They showed me the level I needed to get to, how much harder that I had to work.”

Jones remembered a game with Zachary his first season at Catholic resulting in a variety of emotions.

The Broncos were led by a pair of eventual college signees in Brandon Hardy (UL-Lafayette) and Jaylen Bolden (UL-Monroe, players that McCurry remembered watching in AAU and being apprehensive about going into the game.

He felt differently afterward.

“I was really scared going into that game,” he said. “I ended up having 25 points. That’s when I kind of knew I could do something with it. I’ve always been trying to get better. My defense that year was a rude awakening. I had always been bigger, more athletic than everyone and dudes were driving right past me. That was something I knew I had to getter at.”

McCurry and Nico Jones remained starters throughout their first season, helping Catholic to a 21-13 record and appearance in the state regionals where the Bears lost to Archbishop Shaw, 73-55.

The Bears came back to win 18 of their first 21 games of the following season and dropped games to Madison Prep (44-35) and Shaw (77-69) before the start of District 4-5 play. They went 4-1 and played for the league championship against Scotlandville, which they lost 66-60.

Nearly a month later, and in their third encounter of the season, Catholic avenged its earlier two losses to Scotlandville in the biggest game of the season.

McCurry scored a team-high 20 points in a semifinal victory over St. Thomas More to advance to the state final and in the state final. Conner Green won MVP honors with 14 points, coupled with Dennis Hebert’s 11, and the Bears got clutch free throw shooting down the stretch from Stan Levy and McCurry for the school’s historical first state title with a 57-54 victory.

“It was straight out of a movie,” McCurry said of his 28-6 season. “It was a moment I couldn’t express. That was the best that I’ve felt in my life. The buzzer went off and I was jumping around with my teammates. We also had that bond like this team. No one thought we were going to win that game.

“That was probably the hardest I’ve played in a game,” McCurry said. “I was the leading scorer on the team and had eight in the title game. I was playing my heart out on defense. I didn’t care who scored. As long as we won the game, I could have had zero points. I was fine with winning. That was a really special year. Ever since then, I’ve just craved winning the state championship feeling. It would be great to feel it again.”

Diving in headfirst into pool of competition

Once McCurry, an aspiring three-sport athlete, left behind football and baseball in middle school to concentrate on basketball, the long hours invested in his true passion were just beginning.

The additional work on the gym and weight room were prerequisites to tackle the AAU circuit which became commonplace throughout his summers when his work with Catholic High was done. 

The faster-paced games and high-end athletes gave McCurry an opportunity to showcase his own skills, in some cases against players of equal skill levels or better. 

There were eye-opening moments from the time in his first game against the Atlanta Express and the players wearing those uniforms.

“Those dudes were jacked and dunking,” he said. 

It also gave him a template to strive for, combining his off-the-court work with his developing on-court skill level, and it was an opportunity to show that he belonged. 

“I played well,” he said, “but that also showed me that’s where I was trying to get.”

There were four and five-star recruits, some with college scholarships already committed to schools, who further pushed McCurry into becoming a polished three-level scorer and emerging defender. He could handle the ball, and drive to the goal and his shooting range was elite, extending to the 3-point line. 

“We took to each other right away,” coach Jones said of McCurry. “He was one of those kids that was easy to coach. He wanted to do things the right way and get things exactly right.”

McCurry joined the Louisiana Elite AAU team that also featured statewide standouts such as Liberty’s Malek Robinson, Drew Timmons of Archbishop Hannan (a Navy commitment), and Chris Lindo, formerly of Madison Prep. 

They advanced to the finals of their age-bracket championship where they dropped a close game.

“I started off high school as just a shooter,” McCurry said. “I built my game to where I feel I can score on all three levels. I can finish at the rim, hit a mid-range (shot) or the 3-pointer. I love driving it and dishing it to my bigs. That was something I had to learn.”

McCurry followed up his first team all-district appearance (14.8 points, 62% shooting, 36% 3-point shooting, 81% free throw shooting, 4.0 rebounds) with spots on the all-district first team and was honorable mention all-metro mention for the Bears, who lost to eventual state champion Liberty in the Division I state regionals.

That led to the formulation of gaudy, yet attainable team and individual goals this year, after another terrific summer where Catholic dropped one game.

“State championship is the first thing,” McCurry said. “I also had goals of first-team all-state and all-metro.”

Focused on team goals over college future

Jones, who played collegiately at Mississippi State, has been among McCurry’s biggest advocates, being ready to play at the Division I level.

He was a Division I assistant for 13 years at Samford, New Orleans, Louisiana Tech, Vanderbilt, and Stephen F. Austin, scouring the country for highly skilled players who could fit into a system of play, and make those around them better players.

“He’s a Division I player at the two (shooting) guard,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Photo Courtesy: Glenn Eymard Photography

Just recently Jones told another college coach that when he was at Louisiana Tech when the Bulldogs won several conference championships, McCurry would have had a home in Ruston when the Bulldogs featured solid guard play.

“He could have played,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

One of the biggest obstacles facing high school seniors in any sport today is the advent of the NCAA’s transfer portal and the impact it’s had on 17-18-year-olds with plenty of potential.

Compounding matters are schools that are in non-winning situations, and in search of a quick turnaround, the players from the transfer portal have become the more attractive option because of their experience, thus forcing high school seniors to a road less traveled.

“Once things shake out by the end of the season, he’s going to have Division I offers,” Jones said of McCurry. “He’s got some good offers now. Right now, we’re focused on where he can develop. Where can he go and be coached at a high level? Where can he get a great education? The level doesn’t matter. 

“I did this for a long time as a player and a coach,” Jones said. “I’ve got friends that played and made a ton of money playing basketball after college that played NAIA and Division II. Tate wants to be a pro. He’s got a 4.2 GPA with a 28 on the ACT (and is an LHSAA academic all-state choice). He could go be an engineer or a pharmacist. He can be a pro in whatever career he chooses after basketball is over with. He’s got that kind of potential, talent, and work ethic.”

The snail’s pace of recruiting used to bother McCurry, especially after the AAU season when he played against coveted recruits to standstills or had an upper hand. 

McCurry more than held his own against players committed to schools such as Houston and West Virginia in some of the nation’s competitive environments.

That was followed by angst.

Long talks with his parents on the subject ensued until McCurry received the best advice possible that centered on his enjoyment with his Catholic High teammates in his final season.

“I was playing against all of these top guys in the country and putting up a good fight,” McCurry said. “I thought I could play with those dudes. Then I talked to someone who just told me to go out and have fun. This season I haven’t paid attention to college at all. 

“I told myself I’d worry about that after the season,” McCurry said. “I’m focused on our team, not about me. I’ll wait for that after we win it. I know I can be a Division I player. I realize that with the transfer portal if I have to go to a lower level, I will and just work my way up. I’ve always had something to prove. I can show people what they’re missing out on.”

Without the 16.1 points and leadership contributions from Nico Jones, McCurry has tried to compensate in both areas.

His 15.2 scoring average tops the Bears, shooting 50.4% from the field, 40.3% from 3-point range, and 81.4% from the free throw line. He’s also contributing 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

“I’ve always been off the ball and now this year I’m a little more on the ball without Nico,” he said. “I knew Nico was a big scorer for us last year. I knew I would have to take control sometimes handling the ball with (fellow senior) Matthew (Hotstream). The seniors have taken pride in being the leaders of the team. Our off-the-court bond is crazy.”

During Catholic’s 12-0 start to the season, McCurry figured prominently. 

He was selected MVP in the Laken Charles ‘Showdown in the Lake’ hosted by Hamilton Christian where the Bears defeated Evangel Christian, Washington-Marion, Archbishop Hannan, and Lake Charles College Prep over a three-day period.

Three days later in a rematch with Hannan and close friend Drew Timmons, a Navy signee, McCurry paced three double-figure scorers with 14 points and a 55-52 victory.

A trip to Country Day’s tournament produced Catholic’s only loss – a 53-51 setback to Shaw (19-2), which is the No. 1 team in Division II select.

The Bears ventured to Houston for a pair of highly competitive games after Christmas with Ridge Point and Wheatley which brought out the best of McCurry in a pair of wins 63-60 and 70-66, respectively.

McCurry poured in 25 points and made four 3-pointers in the opener followed by 20 points and five 3s in the finale. 

Catholic made a clean sweep of its competition in University High’s Wayde Sims Invitational, including a 22-point win over reigning two-time Division I non-select state champion Ponchatoula. Part of the Bears’ current streak of 16 straight victories took place January 7 before an overflow home crowd where McCurry capped a 26-point outing with a 3-pointer at the buzzer and boldly waved farewell to the Cubs’ student section.

“I talked with coach Jones, and he said it was going to be a whole lot harder, but we’re still going to get that done,” McCurry said. “I trusted everyone. We have a deep group of guys. I expected us to be No. 1. Our chemistry is unmatched with the way we work and the way we’ve come together off the court.”


Featured Image Courtesy: Glenn Eymard Photography