McBride can do it all
It might be a little simpler to list the schools not interested in Monterey Peninsula guard Ryan McBride than to go through everybody who is interested.
A 6-foot-7, 200-pound shooting guard, McBride has Division One schools from all over the country taking a look.
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“Pitt, Utah State, Southern Illinois, Southern Miss, San Jose State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Coppin, Idaho State, Oregon State,” said Monterey coach Blake Spiering when asked of the schools after McBride. “I could go on.”
And why not? McBride has the size of a forward, but the skills of a two-guard. It's not a common combination.
“I don't know how to describe him,” Spiering said. He's a big time shooter. He does everything. Junior college guys like this doin't come around too often. He can dribble, pass, run, shoot, jump, play defense. He's a big-time athlete.”
McBride scored 17 points per game and shot better than 50 percent from behind the three-point line during his freshman season. The Denver native was a first-team all-conference selection in 2003 and should repeat those honors this season. And his coach thinks he can get better.
“I don't want him to settle,” said Spiering. “Sometimes we'll play guys that the level of competition won't be up to him, but he still has to play his game.”
The only question for McBride is exactly where a college coach would want to play him. Spiering says most of the schools look at McBride as a small forward, but the coach thinks he should stay at the two.
“They're going to take 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 guy at shooting guard,” Spiering said. “Ryan's a two guard. Why not put him at the two where he belongs and get a bigger guy to play the three? He's only 185 pounds.”
Wherever he ends up, McBride should have the skills to contribute right away.