It was an unexpected epiphany for Louie McCroskey.
The former St. Raymond star’s basketball career hadn’t taken the path he had hoped. The athletic 6-foot-5 forward had a brief stint in Finland and played for the ABA’s Hudson Valley Height only to find himself working with children in the Anderson Center for Autism in Poughkeepsie last year.
“Before I would get depressed because basketball didn’t work out,” he said. “That made me go look, these kids got it tougher than you and little things make them smile. It showed me that somebody’s got it worse than you and you can do something about your situation.”
The work was hard, but gratifying. He would watch the kids struggle to communicate and do some of the things he took for granted at times.
McCroskey believes he wasn’t treated well by some of the agents he used to further his career overseas. He said they promised him work, but nothing was delivered.
“When it comes down to it they have other guys they are more concerned with,” he said.
McCroskey is home again for the first time in more than five years. After St. Raymond, he went to play for coach Jim Boeheim and Syracuse before transferring to Marist after his junior year. He had his best season as a senior, averaging 12.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for the Red Foxes. McCroskey was back on the court last Friday at Dyckman with a few former St. Ray’s teammates, including Ricky Torres. It was his first streetball event since the age of 17.
“You know when you move back everyone is playing,” he said. “So I am like why not, let me just play.”
He scored 14 points and showed some of the traits that made him a successful collegiate player. McCroskey got to the rim, defended and battled on the glass. The Bronx native admitted to not being in great shape, but still had his wind.
McCroskey plans to improve that. One of the reasons he played at Dyckman was to begin the process of getting into game shape and working his way back overseas with an agent he trusts. He currently works with kids at the PAL in the Bronx, making it tough for him to completely dedicate himself to basketball.
But he doesn’t look at it as something holding him back. McCroskey has learned that his basketball career can be over quickly. He sees the job as a blessing, something to add to his resume as he pursues his dream of playing professionally. It’s one he knows that will take plenty of work to accomplish.
“I’m in decent shape right now, but I would be fooling myself saying I would be ready right now if I got a phone call,” McCroskey said. “My goal once my job is over is to save money and get in the gym every day and lift and run and shoot and get back to the basics.”