The Union Pines senior is in Columbus playing basketball in the USA Junior Nationals Championship Sports Festival for a team representing North Carolina.
McCrimmon earned his way on to the team by virtue of his performance in a state competition held in Greensboro in April.
The versatile athlete, who will be one of the captains of the Union Pines football team this year, received his notice in the mail that he had made the all-state team after the April tryouts.
“They sent a letter in the mail that said I had been selected to play,” he said. “I just ran in the house and told my dad, ‘We’re going to Ohio.’”
Joining McCrimmon in Ohio this week are his mother Stephanie, father Paul and Adam Cagle, one of his friends.
The competition began with practice sessions on Monday, and then the games began on Tuesday and continue through Sunday.
Getting selected was “exciting,” McCrimmon said, but he also admits to being a “little nervous” about playing in the national event. With eight players on the state team, McCrimmon should get plenty of opportunity to shine from his guard position.
Part of the nervousness is based on the fact that he hopes to play in college and he knows there will be a “bunch” of college coaches in attendance at the national championships.
“I’m hoping to get a little notice while I’m there,” he said.
It’ s not only the opportunity to get noticed by college coaches that has the young man excited about the trip to Ohio. If he really does well in the national event he has a chance to get picked to represent the United States in an international competition.
He plays either point or shooting guard for Union Pines, and he expects to get an opportunity to play both those positions at one time or another during his stay in Ohio.
“I play either number one (point) or number two (shooting) guard,” he said, “but I prefer to play number two.”
While in Greensboro for the tryouts, the young man was one of around 50 players trying to make the state team.
He did “pretty good” during the tryouts. With everyone on the various teams at the tryout getting equal playing time, his team won twice and lost just once.
The criteria for making the state team included demonstrating advanced skills, team leadership, competitive spirit and good sportsmanship.
Asked if there were any other activities surrounding the journey to Ohio, he said, “Probably just basketball. We might have a little free time, but basketball is why I’m there.
“I’m there to win, of course, but I’m going to just go out and do the best I can do.”
