McCall Combines Skill, Smarts, and Heart Continue Basketball Journey
First local player to suit up for Mad Ants sees room for growth here and abroad
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By Keith Edmonds
Fort Wayne Ink Spot
Wouldn’t you agree that it’s refreshing when you read about young people setting goals at a young age and then putting in the time and energy to see those goals through? Would you also agree that it’s even sweeter when it’s a local talent? We are very fortunate that we have such a young man in our midst—DJ McCall. The former Concordia High School standout played at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis where he became the Horizon League’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a regular on the league’s academic honor roll. In his five years at IUPUI (he was redshirted as a sophomore), DJ finished a grueling academic program where he graduated with a Master of Science degree in sports analytics.
DJ has been a member of the Mad Ants since the 2019-20 season, but injuries have hampered his progress. However, his tenacity and professionalism are characteristics that both coaches and teammates find endearing. He shared why this journey that he’s on is so important to him and what drives him towards future basketball success.
Q: What do you think led the Mad Ants to offer you a tryout?
A: The Mad Ants GM shared with me that he liked my defense and the fact that I took great pride in that aspect of the game. For me, being the first Fort Wayne-born player on the roster and having the opportunity to play professional basketball in my hometown is something that I’ll always appreciate and respect them for. Unfortunately, I went into the season with an ankle injury and re-injured it in camp. I kept trying to push through the pain because at that point I was still trying to make the team. I remained professional about it, but it was a struggle to get through the season more so on the “mental” side of things. Then the pandemic set in and I decided to have surgery this past December and it went great and I made 100% recovery which was a blessing for me.
Q: You’re working with an NBA shooting coach who’s helping you to become a better player. How did this happen?
A: I hired a new agent because I wanted to have a little more say and control over decisions regarding my career and someone that would put just as much into me as I was putting in myself. His name is Kevin Tarka (Creation Talent Agency) who connected me with Dave Love (shooting coach) who is working with me on being more consistent in my approach to shooting. My biggest focus is getting in shape and listening to him as he helps me to get better. I’ll be attending a camp in Spain (EuroProBasket) which is an exposure camp for guys trying to play abroad. I’m so thankful that this opportunity has come my way after thinking that I may not have an opportunity to show what I can after the injury. (Follow McCall’s work with Long at coachdavelove.com/diary-of-a-man-made-shooter)
Q: What have you seen as you’ve progressed in your career as a player that you think will help you be successful as a professional?
A: I think that the biggest thing is that I learned a lot of my defensive principles and understanding of how to play defense at Concordia High School; a lot of what helped us be successful was based on the defensive end. My style of play and my specialty defensively is based on guarding the other team's best player and that’s not something you can gauge at the high school level. I think that my ticket is defense and that’s what I hang my hat on!
Q: Back to the shooting coach, whose decision was it for you to work on your shooting?
A: I think that it was a mutual decision between my agent and I to move to someone who could help me improve on those areas that the Mad Ants felt that I could improve, and the most pertinent was shooting. What I have learned is you’ll be asked to work on certain aspects of your game to make you more successful as a pro and you need to show that you took that advice and make the corrections. What guys don’t realize is that you have to come back better from one season to the next.
Q: Where do you think that you are in regard to your game in preparation for European or NBA competition?
A: I feel like I’m getting close to the best I’ve ever felt in my career. I’m playing very well against tough players and high-caliber competition. My shooting coach has worked with some of the best players and teams in the NBA and I totally trust the process that he’s putting me through to improve my game.
Q: You have a tremendous support system here in Fort Wayne, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Northrop coach Rod Chamble who coached you at the AAU level.
A: I owe a lot of my development to coach Chamble. His belief and confidence in me gave me the desire to play at the D1 level and I’m extremely appreciative of what he has done for me and will always continue to support him and Northrop High School. The support that I’ve received from my family, and the city as well, will keep me striving forward to be the very best that I can be.