BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Bristol, Tenn. – Kristopher Joseph and Rodney McGruder are already idols to their Archbishop Carroll High School teammates. Their legacy burns, shines bright and grows daily.
And Josesph and McGruder haven’t even graduated yet.
Joseph, a 6-foot-8, 220 pound senior forward, has signed with Syracuse University, turning down Georgetown, Maryland, Clemson, Texas and George Mason in the process.
McGruder, a 6-foot-5, 195 pound junior guard, has given a verbal commitment to Kansas State University after drawing interest from Pittsburgh and the University of Miami, Fla.
The duo stole the show in the Lions’ 67-49 win over Tennessee High on Wednesday evening in the first round of the 25th annual Arby’s Classic at Viking Hall.
McGruder scored a game-high 25 points on 11-of-22 shooting to lead Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), while Joseph added 21 points (9 of 15), 12 rebounds and five steals.
Together, they accounted for 46 of the Lions’ 67 points.
And it’s not the first time they’ve shared the headlining bill for the same big show.
“Carroll has a very rich tradition of basketball. We’ve had guys come through who’ve gone on to play college or even in the pros,” said Lions coach Clinton Perrow. “But for the right now, for guys like Rodney or Kristopher, it’s almost like there’s an unspoken idolization. Having them around is special to our whole team.”
McGruder named Rudy Gay, LeBron James, Tracy McGrady and Dwayne Wade as his NBA icons. His “most-inspiring list” hits the mark.
Playing with a smooth, relaxed style that perfectly disguises his on-the-court intensity, McGruder looks as comfortable hoisting and dropping a 3-pointer as he does slashing through the lane and burning an opposing defense for a quick 2.
“I know if I just stay focused I’ll make it like my father always told me. He’s always pushed me to be the best I can be,” McGruder, 16, said. “That’s why, when I play basketball, I try to give it my all. I work hard because I want to be better. I want to separate myself from other players.”
Joseph matches McGruder’s intensity.
Joseph dreamed of playing for Syracuse since he was a child.
“That was even before ‘Melo [Carmelo Anthony] came,” Joseph said laughing. “That was my dream school since I was a little kid. Then I just wanted to go there even more, because he was my favorite player.”
But to wear the orange, Joseph first had to make sacrifices.
His family is from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. He grew up in Montreal, Canada. Joseph knew that a life-changing move was in order if he was ever going to play in the Carrier Dome. So, Archbishop Carroll, it was.
“It was tough at first. I was 17, and it was hard to be without your family and friends,” Joseph said. “I see them about three times a year now. But I knew I’d be gone for most of the rest of my life, so I just went ahead and did it.”
Joseph never looked back. And now, he and McGruder know that, together, they’re part of something special. And they fully intend to take their legacy at Archbishop Carroll to the limit.
“Having Rodney around takes a lot of the weight off my shoulders,” Joseph said. “With him scoring and stepping up, it really is taking the pressure off me, and it makes things a lot easier. We have a lot of chemistry. We just gel real well together.”
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