Jared Mccain
Centennial, Senior
CORONA >> Centennial boys basketball coach Josh Giles recalled the day Jared Mccain walked into his office and broke down in tears.
Mccain was a highly touted freshman prospect at the time but struggled to make shots during his first four games with the program. Giles and Mccain had a lengthy conversation, and Giles eventually recommended Mccain pick up a copy of “The Inner Game of Tennis” by Timothy Galloway.
Giles is a huge USC football fan and learned about Galloway’s book when Pete Carroll mentioned it during his years coaching the Trojans.
“I believe in that book and everything that it teaches,” Giles said. “I only wish it was around back when I was still playing.”
Mccain followed the advice of his coach and started reading the book. Three weeks later, Centennial was competing in the prestigious Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas. Mccain sank eight 3-pointers, seven in the second half, to help the Huskies beat nationallyranked Neumann-goretti of Philadelphia.
“We saw confidence from him that we had never seen before,” Giles said of Mccain’s breakthrough game. “Ever since, that book has been a part of his ritual. He reads it before each game. And it’s the same copy from his freshman year — the cover is gone and it’s holding on by its last thread.”
Mccain put that rough start behind him and went on to become one of the most decorated boys basketball players in Inland history, picking up two Gatorade state player of the year honors while becoming Centennial’s first Mcdonald’s All-american Game selection. Mccain, a 6-foot-4 guard who is headed to Duke, helped the program achieve a remarkable 106-12 record over his four seasons, won three section titles and one state championship.
Centennial played a grueling schedule this past season that included numerous out-of-state trips and finished with a 30-4 record. Mccain averaged 17.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4 assists per game and helped Centennial become the first program in CIF Southern Section history to claim three consecutive Open Division championships.
For those reasons, Mccain has been selected the IE Varsity Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
It took less than a minute for Mccain to mention the impact “The Inner Game of Tennis” has had on his development as a player.
“From that point on, I feel like I have been able to keep track of the mental side of the game,” said Mccain, who has incorporated yoga and meditation into his daily routine over the years. “This coaching staff always believed in me, and I just needed to believe in myself.
“Once I conquered that aspect of the game, I just did whatever I could to be a leader and help his program reach greater heights.”
The mental part of the game has become increasingly important for Mccain in recent years. He is a social media star who has 1.9 million followers and more than 100 million likes on Tiktok. He is mobbed by followers after games and always is willing to take photos and videos.
Of course, that status also makes him a target for the harshest taunts and chants from opposing fans.
“I first really noticed it during my junior year,” Mccain said of the heckling. “It got to me at first, but then I realized that was happening because they were trying to get under my skin . ... By the time the playoffs rolled around that year, I just started using it as motivation.”
Mccain said the mentorships of his teammates, including Paris Dawson and Donovan Dent, has played a major factor in his success.
“I learned how to lead by example from all of the older players,” Mccain said. “When you are a senior, you want to leave a legacy that will last and carry over to the next group of players. I learned that my actions on and off the court will have an impact.
“I hope I have done my part.”