The skyscraper of Clover towers over the Blue Eagle basketball court again.

Clover High School junior Tyronne McNeal will play his third season with the Clover Blue Eagles boys’ varsity basketball team.

“I have been playing basketball for 14 years,” McNeal said. “I started playing with my cousin when I was young.”

McNeal’s childhood influences helped him make the decision to play basketball today.

“My mom (Lawanda McNeal) influenced me to play basketball,” McNeal said.

McNeal is taller than any other student at CHS. He is an astounding six feet, 11 inches tall. His mom is also tall, reaching a height of 6-1.

McNeal’s height gives him the advantage on the court.

“Some advantages of being tall are that I can get the ball over people easily on the court,” McNeal said.

Clover varsity boys’ basketball coach, Dudley Lybrand, agrees that his height helps him on the court. Lybrand has seen many talented athletes in his twenty years of coaching experience.

“I think many colleges look at him because he is six-foot-eleven, he plays in the post with his back to the basket and he’s talented,” Lybrand said. “There’s not a lot of them (athletes) out there like him.”

Some other advantages of being tall, according to McNeal, are being able to reach for materials in high places.

Being a giant has its disadvantages too. McNeal’s height affects some of the everyday activities people participate. For example, McNeal has trouble when driving because he is so tall.

McNeal enjoys every aspect of basketball. His favorite professional team in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the Miami Heat. McNeal’s favorite professional basketball player is Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal.

“If I played for a pro team, it would be Miami so I could play with Shaq,” McNeal said.

McNeal admires Shaq’s skills to “play down low”.

McNeal has plans for his future career in basketball.

“I want to play college basketball for Xavier,” McNeal said.

Xavier is in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Lybrand has received lots of information for McNeal from colleges in most major conferences such as the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), South Eastern Conference (SEC), Big East and the Big 10.

“Tyronne is an athletically talented young man who is very gifted,” Lybrand said. “He will have a bright future if he takes advantage of it.”

After college, McNeal plans to play in the NBA if he is selected.

For now, McNeal just hopes to better his high school basketball skills.

The team practices from one and a half to two and a half hours daily. At practice, the team focuses on the fundamentals intertwined with individual team plays and concepts.

“Tyronne makes you work hard,” CHS junior and basketball player Curtis Milner said. “He’s a maturing athlete and a nice guy to play with on the court.”

Conditioning for the basketball season begins early. It lasts all year long. Outside of school, McNeal enjoys working out.

“It is important to keep in shape all year so that you will be ready when the season comes,” McNeal said.

The practices and hard work pay off during the season. The team of 13 works hard in the summer, pre-season, during the season and on weekends to improve.

“The team gives up a lot to play basketball,” Lybrand said.

This year, Lybrand hopes to win Region, advance further in the State playoffs and compete every time out on the court.

According to McNeal, his most memorable moments of the games are the team’s victories.

“The moments I am most proud of are when we win,” McNeal said.

McNeal has a passion for basketball that grows with his career.

“Success this year will rely on how the team plays as one,” Lybrand said.

McNeal also enjoys that the team works well together. He has learned a lot from Lybrand to help with his contributions to the team. Lybrand has taught McNeal post moves, positioning in the post and shooting style.

“Tyronne gives it his all on the court,” Milner said.

“We will rely on senior leadership this year,” Lybrand said. “But commitment and honesty will be first and foremost for the team.”