McFarland is a Lesson in Perseverance
Ron Bailey, Publisher
Chris McFarland, posing here for senior pictures.
June 29, 2006 – Having attended, played for, and graduated from Riverdale Baptist School this year, 6’1 190lb guard Chris McFarland is now attending St. Francis (PA), on a full basketball scholarship. At first blush, given his being named honorable mention All-Met in the Washington DC area and invited to play in the Capitol Classic’s preliminary match up, in addition to the being offered a scholarship by not only St. Francis but Howard and Charleston Southern also, observers could think Chris has had a challenge-less high school road. Those individuals should think again.
After having played basketball for his dad, Jerry McFarland in little league (and later at his high school and AAU stops), Chris started his high school career at Alexandria, VA’s Bishop Ireton. Playing there for two years, his basketball role was to score, which was performed admirably. Unfortunately, he didn’t focus on academics as much as he should have.
Discussing this pivotal time in his young life, the younger McFarland revealed “When I was at Ireton, I left because my grades were bad. At the time I was like Why me? Why me”? Adding to his frustration was a rule change governing transfers within the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), mandating a year of no athletic participation if a student-athlete transferred to a member school: His initial plan was to transfer to league member Archbishop Carroll.
Instead of sulking, a rededicated Chris enrolled at Riverdale Baptist. Also following was his dad, invited by the school’s head coach, Lou Wilson, to come and assist with the program. Chris was comfortable with his father again coaching him. “I don’t really think it was much pressure (having the elder McFarland work so closely with him)” he said. “I really don’t think it’s much difference sometimes. I feel he’s harder on me, but that’s alright”.
As a Riverdale junior, he immediately excelled academically and on football field, where Chris shared statistics of “62 tackles, seven interceptions (three for touchdowns), forced three fumbles, recovered two fumbles” and tallied “three sacks”. Such production as a defensive back/wide receiver, garnered him first team All-County (Prince Georges) recognition.
Just when things were rolling, Chris was faced with what many would consider another challenge. Riverdale Baptist added two highly regarded sophomores in Nolan Smith and Mike Beasley, to a team already boasting 10 graduating seniors; the effect of which was to make minutes on the floor extremely hard to earn.
Again, McFarland didn’t complain, he just soldiered on. “Coming to Riverdale Baptist, I had (future St. Francis teammate) Devin Sweetney on one wing, Nolan on the other, with Mike and Travis (Ivey, current Maryland Terrapin defensive lineman) down low. I had nothing to pout about” he said. In Chris’ estimation his role on the team, which went 33-1 in route to a Christian school national championship, was to distribute the ball and play defense. Before the season’s end, Chris had earned the trust of the coaching staff, and his teammates.
Finally his senior year rolled around, and again McFarland started the year excelling on the gridiron, this time focusing on receiver, where according to him he produced stats of “15 passes (caught), 515 yards, five T.D.’s”, and three interceptions while starting a defensive back. Again he got major accolades, earning 1st team All-Conference, and 2nd team All-County” honors.
And once again, Chris had to fight through what could be construed as adversity. On the hardwood, gone were not only the 10 seniors, but Smith and Beasley as well, leaving only some talented, but young freshman/sophomores and a couple of unproven players for Chris to play with.
Despite the young, inexperienced lineup, Chris led the Riverdale Crusaders to a 22-12 record for 2005-2006, during which he feels personal development was achieved. “I think it (the personnel situation) was better for me, because it helped my leadership” he said. “We had good, young guys, so it was up to me to be the leader”. This included having to keep his teammates focused, “leading by example, and getting them to improve”. From a personal standpoint, McFarland’s stat line read 14 points, six assists, three rebounds, and two blocks per game.
When it came to choosing a college as a high school senior, McFarland decided upon St. Francis for several reasons. “They were the first school to offer me a scholarship, are not too close to home, but not far enough that I can’t come home if I want to” he said. This resident of the Branch Avenue section of Prince George’s County also shared by attending the school, “I get to play with Devin (Sweetney) again”.
There is small chance that he might return to the gridiron his sophomore year, if as he put it “I miss the game too much”. Howard offered McFarland the opportunity to play hoops and football from the outset, but he declined, as his focus is on basketball. “Football was a hobby for me” Chris said. “I just played because I liked the game. I always wanted to play Division I basketball”.
As a result of his ability to push on, Chris has positioned himself to realize his hoops dream. He firmly believes “You have to persevere through everything”, since “God has a plan for me”.
Sage advice indeed.
McFarland, seen here handling the ball, has used maturity and stick-to-itiveness to earn a Division I scholarship.