BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR ISSAC McBRIDE, Baptist Prep

Flying high again: Kansas signee soared in final season for Eagles

Baptist Prep senior guard Issac McBride averaged 28.9 points per game in 2018-19. McBride, who won three Class 4A state championships in his career, will play at Kansas next season.
Baptist Prep senior guard Issac McBride averaged 28.9 points per game in 2018-19. McBride, who won three Class 4A state championships in his career, will play at Kansas next season.

There were times during his career at Baptist Prep it appeared that Issac McBride was putting up video game like numbers.

McBride scored 30 or more points in 16 games during his senior season. He hit at least one three-pointer in 33 of the Eagles' 34 games. In his four years at the small private school in west Little Rock, McBride's teams won 58 of 60 conference games, went 117-22 overall and captured three state championships.

ISSAC McBRIDE

SCHOOL Baptist Prep

CLASS Senior

POSITION Guard

HEIGHT 6-1

NOTEWORTHY Born on Dec. 20, 2000. … Parents are Issac Sr. and Barbara McBride. He has a sister, Myia (27) … He averaged 28.9 points a game and is the all-time leading scorer for Baptist Prep. He scored a career-high 58 points vs. Russellville, which is also a school record. … He was the MVP of the 2018 Class 4A state tournament. … McBride plans to major in broadcast journalism at Kansas University.

But if you want to hear the 6-1 guard gloat, ask him about his mastery of NBA 2K.

"I'm not going to lie to you, I play a lot of video games," McBride said. "I'm very competitive. ... This is the only time you'll hear me boast, but I feel like I'm the best 2K player in the state. If you gave me a series, like an NBA best-of-seven, I don't think there's anyone in the state -- no, anyone in the Southern region -- who could stop me. That's how confident I am."

While he may sing his own praises over his PlayStation prowess, McBride is as humble as they come while on and off the basketball court.

His faith, family and school all come before basketball and video games.

"He is a man of character," Baptist Prep Coach Steve Miller said. "He is just loved by everyone because he loves everyone. He makes time for everyone. He doesn't walk around like he's arrived, saying I'm playing D-1 sports, so bow down to me. It's the other way around."

"One of the things I'm proud of was that I was blessed enough to come to this school, not only to play basketball for such a great program, but to be coached by such men as Coach Miller and the rest of the coaching staff," McBride said. "To be around teachers who genuinely care for you, I try to use what they've taught me, do something big and make a difference for other people."

McBride was heavily recruited and he eventually signed with the Kansas Jayhawks prior to his senior season. With that decision behind him, McBride was able to turn his senior season into a memorable one.

McBride broke his own single-season scoring record, totaling 983 points. He set the school's single-game scoring record with a 58-point outing against Russellville. (The previous record was 53 set in 1993 by Matthew Jackson). McBride averaged 5.3 assists a game and hit 115 three-pointers his senior season.

"When the signing was over, it was like a big relief," Miller said. "It was like 'I don't have all these people calling me and I don't have all these people asking me where I'm going.' There was that load taken off of him and he was able to enjoy his senior year."

McBride scored at least 15 points in 33 of his 34 games. Five nights after scoring 43 points in a victory at Mayflower, McBride came up with only four points in a 74-51 victory over LISA Academy, a game in which he played less than two quarters.

"It was a great experience for me, taking on a leadership role," McBride said. "I not only got to lead by showing them what I could do on the court but what I could vocally. I was able to grow as a person, learning how to approach different situations and learning how to do them in a Christ-like way."

McBride is a big fan of ESPN, plans to go into sports broadcasting and is a basketball historian. This summer he plans to stay busy working to improve his game before he steps on the Kansas campus this summer.

"I want to start classes early," McBride said. "They give you that option. I want to get accumulated and learn more about the campus. My summer will be jammed-packed."

He also might find a little time to play some video games.

"I don't do Fortnite," McBride said. "I've seen some of my friends get a little too addicted to that. I'd say, 'Let's go to the gym and get some shots in.' And they would say, 'No, I'm playing Fortnite.'

"I'm going to keep it sports related. When I play a video game, I imagine myself in the game and the only way I can do that is getting into the gym. I don't want to play anything that takes up my time. I love video games, but I know that's a second, third or fourth choice behind God, family and getting into the gym."

Sports on 03/24/2019

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