Sports

Genetics & guidance paves path to Binghamton for McRae

Jordan McRae had no choice. Sports were going to be his life.

He was born into prestigious basketball bloodlines — his father was New York City playground legend Conrad McRae — and was taught the work ethic needed to transform potential into production from his stepdad, former Jets lineman Shaun Ellis.

“I’m definitely blessed to have the best of both worlds,” the Binghamton University-bound star 6-foot-6 forward from Huntington, L.I., said.

When Cecile Ellis sees her son Jordan, she is reminded of his father, Conrad, the former McDonald’s All-American at Brooklyn Tech and Syracuse University star who died tragically 14 years ago last Wednesday, collapsing on the court while practicing with the Orlando Magic summer league team.

Jordan has the same carefree personality, the same mannerisms, the same corny sense of humor, the same look on his face when he’s deep in thought, the same long, muscular physique. And he gets the same twinkle in his eye when he’s amused.

“It’s almost like they are carbon copies,” said Cecile, a retired federal agent. “He has the same kind and gentle spirit Conrad had.”

Though Jordan was just 3 years old when his father died, he still has memories of their brief time together. Last Wednesday, the family visited his burial site, an annual tradition. It isn’t the only time he thinks about his dad. He often watches film of him, picking up things he wants to add to his game. Jordan yearns to live up to his father’s legacy.

“I know that it carries a lot of weight,” he said of his last name. “A lot of people know me because of my father. I know I have big shoes to fill and I’m prepared to fill [them].”

Ellis was watching footage recently of streetball legends, when Conrad — known as “McNasty” — appeared, throwing down impressive one-handed dunks, just like Jordan likes to do.

“So that’s why you dunk like that,” Ellis said, with a laugh.

Nevertheless, Ellis, 37, is credited by Jordan, who affectionately calls him “dad,” and Cecile for getting him to this point, a straight-A student who will play basketball at the University of Binghamton in the fall and major in accounting.

He came into the picture when Jordan was 6 years old, still adjusting to life without his dad, and married Cecile three years later, balancing his career as as NFL defensive lineman — he retired during the 2012 season — and began his next life, as a full-time dad.

McRae, with his father and street basketball legend, Conrad McRae.
“Shaun has taught him how to be a man in every sense of the word,” said Cecile, who has two sons — Skyler, 5 and Bryson, 3 — with Ellis, her husband of nine years. “Shaun has modeled what a good father should be, what a good husband should be, what a good man should be. He’s taught Jordan how to be a competitor, a hard worker, responsible, and he has taught Jordan how to be humble. … I guess Jordan has had the perfect balance between nature [Conrad] and nurture [Shaun].”

Conrad didn’t want to force his son to follow in his footsteps, but Jordan was drawn to basketball as a toddler anyway, attending his dad’s streetball games and getting to see him in action overseas.

The similarities have begun to develop on the basketball court, also. Jordan’s ability to change a game at both ends of the floor with his dynamic shot-blocking, finishing ability and a developing jump shot.

The entire family point to the past calendar year as a turning point. Jordan began taking basketball more seriously, less as a hobby and more as a job. Following a disappointing junior season, he talked to Ellis, a star basketball player in his day before forgoing the sport for football, about his goals. They set out a training plan, a mix of weight lifting, running and skill work, that would transform his body and his game.

The first step wasn’t easy — daily 5 a.m. workouts.

“You should’ve seen my face,” Jordan recalled. “The first time he had to drag me out [of bed]. I wasn’t ready for it. He came in my room, he had his phone alarm the loudest it could be pressed to my ear.”

Ellis coached Jordan’s AAU team last summer with the Long Island Lightning — “that was fun for me by the way,” the big former lineman said with a grin. A big summer transferred into a bigger winter. The extra work paid off, with a a memorable senior season and a future at Binghamton.

Jordan led Half Hollows to its first league title in several years and the Nassau County Class AA semifinals, averaging 13 points and 13 rebounds per game, while earning a number of awards.

“Jordan is a guy who has big upside,” Binghamton coach Tommy Dempsey said. “Obviously, he’s been around some great athletes, so I do think there’s an element of potential there. So we’re giving him an opportunity. We view it as a staff that his best basketball is still in front of him. He seems like a guy worth giving a chance.”

Jordan had several Division II offers, and the opportunity to make an immediate impact, but Division I was his dream. It always has been.

“That was my goal, to become a Division I player and prosper,” Jordan said. “I’m definitely confident.”

His biological father gave him the natural ability. His “dad” has helped with the rest.