Growing up in a sporty family, Craig Irons always had an instinct for basketball, and with a seven-foot frame, he was born with a gift most players only dream about, but early on, height alone wasn’t enough.
For most of my life, I was ‘just take the big kid, put him at the basket and have him stand there the whole game.’ It worked until I got to high school, I actually learn to play a game,” said Irons.
“It kind of hurt me in the long run, but I’m getting better at it.”
Here at COC, Craig’s game has changed. He’s learning the details, reading the floor and becoming a vocal presence on defense.
“Craig has an incredible work ethic,” said Howard Fisher, COC Head Basketball Coach.
“He’s done a great job with our strength and conditioning program, and he’s really starting to grow as a player.”
His progress comes from consistency, the drive that helps him push through tough practices and refine his game.
“What motivates me when I’m having a bad practice is that even though it sucks now, if I keep doing it, it won’t suck in the future. So as long as I’m consistent, I can fix whatever problem that I have in my game,” said Irons.
That mindset has helped him become a leader on the court, someone who communicates, corrects and guides.
“He calls out some of his teammates, he understands where everybody’s supposed to be, and he communicates very well, and that stands out,” said Fisher.
Standing out is something he’s used to at his height; blending in was never optional, but he doesn’t see it as a challenge.
“I don’t know it any other way, so it’s just normal to me,” said Irons.
And while his height can make everyday life tricky on the court. It’s a major advantage.
“Outside of sports, it makes a lot of things harder, but for sports, it’s awesome,” said Irons.
“I’d rather be really tall than really short.”
