by Lonnel Cole, Argus Sports
What does Darrion Upchurch have to do, jump through hoops, to prove he’s a bona fide, well, hoops star?
“Now days it’s so much harder to get recruited if you’re not 6-5,” explained Upchurch, a 6-foot-even star guard who graduated from McKinley High Classical School in the Public High League this spring. “I talked to a bunch of schools.”
Upchurch acknowledged that most of the coaches expressed some level of interest but not the highest in his opinion. He said they are deterred by his size (6-0,155) and not aware of high motor or lifelong work ethic. Never mind the fact that Upchurch has been one of the area’s most prolific scorers (24.3 points per game) and defensive stalwarts and disrupters (109 total steals this past season) for the Goldbugs on the South Side.
But several colleges’ loss is William Woods’ gain. For the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) emerging, small-college power in Fulton, Missouri, (22 miles northeast of Jefferson City) were more than happy to sign Upchurch. The Owls will be entering their second season in the Heart of America Conference, after a record-breaking campaign in the American Midwest Conference, where they won the championship and went 28-2 two seasons ago.
“We are excited to sign Darrion (Upchurch),” said William Woods coach Andrew Green. “His body of work at McKinley and his ability to score at a high level was what peaked our initial interest. Through the process we also got to see his maturity, character and hunger to be successful at the college level. We believe that his ability on the court is matched with (his being) a culture fit our program.”
Upchurch, who plans to major in finance and marketing, certainly put up his share of numbers on the court. His aforementioned 24.3 points per game edged out rival Gateway Stem star Gavin Dillion by the smallest margin possible at 24.2 points per game. In their lone head-to-head meeting the past season, McKinley outlasted Gateway Stem 75-71, even though Dillion outscored Upchurch 30-25, proving that Upchurch was not a one-man show.
However, that’s not to say that Upchurch isn’t capable of ‘putting on a show’. for his highlight videos are loaded. Moreover, the manner in which he scores is by any means necessary: slashing through the paint, dribbling through as many as three defenders, off quick, disruptive steals and frequently on fade-away jump shots. His arsenal is broad.
“Most people see me and think I’m a weak link (due to size),” notes Upchurch. “They don’t know how much of a high motor player I am. Even when I was younger, I’ve always played up with the older kids. So this is a moment I prepared for. Those late hours we talked after practice. I worked on my game: how to get out of those traps, how to score over them tall defenders. They weren’t aware of all the holes I was able to patch up in my game..”
Indeed, Upchurch’s now-former coach, Matthew Larios at McKinley, can attest to his passion and drive to get better.
“Darrion is very passionate about basketball,” relayed Larios. “He was able to see the court well. Him putting in the work, day in and day out, has made him successful. Asking to stay in the gym to get more shots (has helped). When we have off days, he’s asking to get in the gym (to shoot more). Darrion also was great with academics as well.”
Since expanding from a middle magnet school to a high school in 2007, McKinley Classical is now ranked among the top five percent of Missouri public schools, according to U.S. News and World Report. Like its model school, Metro Classical Academy ,the challenging academics makes it harder for many athletes to qualify. As a consequence, they may not have the depth or overall talent of their mainstream schools. This could also result in McKinley not garnering the athletic attention or acclaim of its competition.
“Playing at a small public school like McKinley, I’ve faced so much adversity,” said Upchurch, who indicated that Central Missouri State, Jefferson College, Lewis and Clark, Webster University and William Penn College (in Kansas City), were among the other schools he considered. “When I was at William Woods (visiting) the players all greeted me with open arms. It felt as though we were (old friends) and I had just met those guys an hour ago. Even while talking to the players, they didn’t lie trying to boost their school up. They gave me the real uncut version of what to expect….”
Upchurch, who indicated he is often asked if he is related to former Beaumont High great Craig Upchurch, who was an All-Metro selection back in 1987 and went on to star at the University of Houston,. Darrion Upchurch is not related to Craig Upchurch, though.
Darrion said he has done some research on the old McKinley High hoops program, which won the Missouri Class 3A state championship in 1984 behind the future St Louis University star tandem of Monroe Douglass and Roland Gray. Robert “Slip” Turner and Jerome Clayton were also distinguished stars shortly before that, with Turner going on to star at Canisius University in Buffalo, where he served as team captain.( Turner, who was inducted into that school’s Hall of Fame in 1996,still ranks in the top 10 all-time in scoring, which includes a record-setting 13-of-14 shooting (92.8 percent) from the field in a win over Vermont.)
