McCallister returns to old stomping grounds at Parkersburg South
PARKERSBURG WVa.. — The coaching DNA of Trent McCallister developed at an early age.
The 2004 Parkersburg South graduate will bring his team from Gaston Day School (Gastonia, N.C.) to this week’s South Basketball Classic. In the first semifinal game Thursday at 6 p.m., Gaston Day meets Mt. Lebanon High School (Pittsburgh).
“Getting invited to this year’s tournament worked out great – I am really looking forward to seeing friends and former teammates,” McCallister said. “As a coach, it’s a great opportunity to compete against teams we don’t play against.”
As the starting point guard for the Parkersburg South state championship team in 2003, McCallister’s head coach sensed a type of quality which requires an individual to flourish as a leader.
“Trent played a very big part of that state championship,” said Joe Crislip, who spent 20 years with the South boys basketball program, including 10 as a head coach. Crislip watched as McCallister remained active with the team during the first eight weeks of that 2003 magical season while rehabbing from a broken foot.
“I knew Trent would be a good coach – he was like having a coach on the floor,” Crislip continued. “You didn’t have to let him know how to break another team’s press. He knew where to get the ball. He was a very smart basketball player.
“He had great leadership. Even while he was injured, he was at every practice on the bike to stay in shape. He would be on the floor shooting. His intellect is really good. He has a good understanding of the game. His basketball teammates really liked him. He was a very positive person.”
McCallister came from a basketball family. His connection with coach Crislip provided the foundation for his future coaching career once he graduated from UNC-Charlotte.
“South had a ton of talented players – that’s what drew me to the school,” McCallister said. “They continue to have a winning culture where basketball is important.
“I played for a lot of great coaches. Coach Crislip influenced me the most as far as my coaching career. In high school, that’s when I started thinking about doing something in that field.”
McCallister’s path to Gaston Day began as an assistant with the Spartans for three seasons for one of his best friends. When his friend left for another school, McCallister was offered the head coaching position.
“I wanted to coach after college – the first opportunity I had was with a good friend I met when we went to South Carolina-Aiken for my first year of college,” McCallister said. “When they offered me the job at Gaston Day, I was thrilled. Ever since then I have stayed at Gaston Day. I feel a great deal of loyalty and appreciation to be our program’s head coach.”
This season marks No. 8 for McCallister as head coach at Gaston Day, which competes in Class 2A of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association.
Currently, the Spartans currently own an 8-3 record. Three players on the roster are lined up to play college basketball, including 6-foot-11, 210-pound center Callum Richard, who is considered the second best big man coming out of high school in North Carolina. Richard will join the men’s basketball team at East Tennessee State next season.
Among the Spartans’ three Final Four appearances under McCallister, Gaston Day best finish resulted in a double-overtime loss in the 2017 championship game
“Like South, we play a competitive schedule every year,” McCallister said. “I like to think we compete with the best public or private schools in the state of North Carolina.”
The McCallister pipeline runs deep on the Gaston Day bench. His father, Jim McCallister, is an assistant coach for his son.
“That means a lot to have my dad on my staff,” Trent said. “From a coaching perspective, we talk so much about basketball overall. He and I view the game in a similar way, so when it comes to a scouting report or what’s happening on the floor we are able to communicate pretty effectively.”
Trent’s immediate family will join Gaston Day for the six-hour trip to Parkersburg this week. He and his wife Ashley have three children, Colin (9), Wells (6) and Lennon (4). Lennon recently celebrated a birthday.
“The team usually doesn’t travel often – basketball in our area is so good, we don’t have to travel,” Trent said. “We are so fortunate to play great events in our area.
“The kids are excited about this week’s tournament. It will be a new environment. We are a small private school which gets the opportunity to play at South.
“This will be a fun trip for me personally and I hope the team enjoys their time in Parkersburg. It’s a great community.”
When informed about the packed houses at Rod Oldham Athletic Center and the South Psychos student section, McCallister recollected on his playing days as a Patriot.
“I remembered we always had this cow – Bessie was a small cow painted white and blue,” Trent said. “It was always around. The crowds were crazy. Students for South games have always been super involved and supportive.”
A possible matchup on Day 2 at the South Classic could pit McCallister against his former school. South plays Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (Virginia) in Thursday’s second semifinal.
“I’ve known Trent since he was a young kid,” South coach Mike Fallon said. “When he was in high school, I was doing my student-teaching and I got to know his family. He always had a super basketball mind from a young age. He understood the game. He was always a step ahead.
“That would be really cool to play them. All the teams in this tournament are well-coached and prepared, but being able to play Trent’s team would be a pretty neat highlight for Parkersburg South basketball.”
PARKERSBURG WVa.. — The coaching DNA of Trent McCallister developed at an early age.
The 2004 Parkersburg South graduate will bring his team from Gaston Day School (Gastonia, N.C.) to this week’s South Basketball Classic. In the first semifinal game Thursday at 6 p.m., Gaston Day meets Mt. Lebanon High School (Pittsburgh).
“Getting invited to this year’s tournament worked out great – I am really looking forward to seeing friends and former teammates,” McCallister said. “As a coach, it’s a great opportunity to compete against teams we don’t play against.”
As the starting point guard for the Parkersburg South state championship team in 2003, McCallister’s head coach sensed a type of quality which requires an individual to flourish as a leader.
“Trent played a very big part of that state championship,” said Joe Crislip, who spent 20 years with the South boys basketball program, including 10 as a head coach. Crislip watched as McCallister remained active with the team during the first eight weeks of that 2003 magical season while rehabbing from a broken foot.
“I knew Trent would be a good coach – he was like having a coach on the floor,” Crislip continued. “You didn’t have to let him know how to break another team’s press. He knew where to get the ball. He was a very smart basketball player.
“He had great leadership. Even while he was injured, he was at every practice on the bike to stay in shape. He would be on the floor shooting. His intellect is really good. He has a good understanding of the game. His basketball teammates really liked him. He was a very positive person.”
McCallister came from a basketball family. His connection with coach Crislip provided the foundation for his future coaching career once he graduated from UNC-Charlotte.
“South had a ton of talented players – that’s what drew me to the school,” McCallister said. “They continue to have a winning culture where basketball is important.
“I played for a lot of great coaches. Coach Crislip influenced me the most as far as my coaching career. In high school, that’s when I started thinking about doing something in that field.”
McCallister’s path to Gaston Day began as an assistant with the Spartans for three seasons for one of his best friends. When his friend left for another school, McCallister was offered the head coaching position.
“I wanted to coach after college – the first opportunity I had was with a good friend I met when we went to South Carolina-Aiken for my first year of college,” McCallister said. “When they offered me the job at Gaston Day, I was thrilled. Ever since then I have stayed at Gaston Day. I feel a great deal of loyalty and appreciation to be our program’s head coach.”
This season marks No. 8 for McCallister as head coach at Gaston Day, which competes in Class 2A of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association.
Currently, the Spartans currently own an 8-3 record. Three players on the roster are lined up to play college basketball, including 6-foot-11, 210-pound center Callum Richard, who is considered the second best big man coming out of high school in North Carolina. Richard will join the men’s basketball team at East Tennessee State next season.
Among the Spartans’ three Final Four appearances under McCallister, Gaston Day best finish resulted in a double-overtime loss in the 2017 championship game
“Like South, we play a competitive schedule every year,” McCallister said. “I like to think we compete with the best public or private schools in the state of North Carolina.”
The McCallister pipeline runs deep on the Gaston Day bench. His father, Jim McCallister, is an assistant coach for his son.
“That means a lot to have my dad on my staff,” Trent said. “From a coaching perspective, we talk so much about basketball overall. He and I view the game in a similar way, so when it comes to a scouting report or what’s happening on the floor we are able to communicate pretty effectively.”
Trent’s immediate family will join Gaston Day for the six-hour trip to Parkersburg this week. He and his wife Ashley have three children, Colin (9), Wells (6) and Lennon (4). Lennon recently celebrated a birthday.
“The team usually doesn’t travel often – basketball in our area is so good, we don’t have to travel,” Trent said. “We are so fortunate to play great events in our area.
“The kids are excited about this week’s tournament. It will be a new environment. We are a small private school which gets the opportunity to play at South.
“This will be a fun trip for me personally and I hope the team enjoys their time in Parkersburg. It’s a great community.”
When informed about the packed houses at Rod Oldham Athletic Center and the South Psychos student section, McCallister recollected on his playing days as a Patriot.
“I remembered we always had this cow – Bessie was a small cow painted white and blue,” Trent said. “It was always around. The crowds were crazy. Students for South games have always been super involved and supportive.”
A possible matchup on Day 2 at the South Classic could pit McCallister against his former school. South plays Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (Virginia) in Thursday’s second semifinal.
“I’ve known Trent since he was a young kid,” South coach Mike Fallon said. “When he was in high school, I was doing my student-teaching and I got to know his family. He always had a super basketball mind from a young age. He understood the game. He was always a step ahead.
“That would be really cool to play them. All the teams in this tournament are well-coached and prepared, but being able to play Trent’s team would be a pretty neat highlight for Parkersburg South basketball.”