By Ronnie Gallagher
Salisbury Post
GRANITE QUARRY ó Justin Vanderford’s 1,684 career points shattered the all-time school record at East Rowan. His 584 points this past season broke the school mark.
“And whatever records there were in middle school, he probably broke those, too,” chimes in East coach Greg McKenzie.
But there’s another record Vanderford broke this season that he was unaware of until he was being interviewed as the 2008 Rowan County Player of the Year.
It was a mark held by West great Scooter Sherrill, a record that at one time was thought to be unbreakable.
During his senior season, Vanderford was pictured in this paper 33 times. Scooter’s old mark was 31.
That’s a heck of a lot of photos but it proves two things: Vanderford was always around the ball. And he was one the best players to ever play in these parts.
“He’s like a legend around here, he really is.” said McKenzie, Vanderford’s biggest fan and personal P.R. man. “Look back to middle school. Everyone knew who he was. Now he’s had four years of varsity. He’s a local celebrity.”
Vanderford noticed the number of photos.
“About halfway through the season, I was saying, ‘Everybody in the county is going to hate me,’ ” he said.
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Actually, the fans admired him. People showed up at East games to watch this hyped, cocksure Mustang perform at a very high level.
Vanderford seldom disappointed.
He had at least 21 points in his first seven games. Then, in the eighth game against Lake Norman, Vanderford scored 36.
“We’ve had a lot of great players in the county,” McKenzie said, “but Justin will be known as one of the best players ever in Rowan County.”
McKenzie and Vanderford actually arrived at East the same year. McKenzie took over for Jim Young and freshman Justin was ready to take over for older brother Alstin, who would one day become a county player of the year and was also East’s career scoring leader ó until now.
“I promised Alstin I’d break his record,” Vanderford said. “He’d tell me every day, ‘No you’re not. No you’re not.’ But he was happy for me when it happened.”
Vanderford got a little better each year. His average as a freshman was 8.0. It climbed to 14.4 as a sophomore and increased to 16.9 as a junior. As a senior, his aspirations were sky-high.
“My first three years, I listened to Alstin and Spenser (Davis) and (Darren) Cozart,” Vanderford said. “I felt this would be my year. I was going to be the leader and show everybody this is the way we’re going to do it.”
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McKenzie had watched Vanderford often by the time he arrived at East. Vanderford had played AAU and been at enough Pfeiffer camps to peak McKenzie’s curiosity.
“I knew he was a good little player for his age,” said McKenzie. “But you never know how things are going to work out when he gets to high school.”
After 88 wins in four seasons, the greatest stretch in school history, Vanderford proved to be everything McKenzie envisioned.
“He’s driven in basketball,” McKenzie said. “That’s his thing. He works at it. He takes pride in it. He has a lot of stuff you can’t coach, like confidence and poise. He’s always thinking two plays ahead. He’s so smart.”
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That’s why McKenzie was stunned late in the season when Vanderford went into a little slump. After 17 straight 20-plus games, he had a five-game stretch where he averaged just 13.
“That was a slump for him, not others,” McKenzie chuckled. “I was just shocked because I never see him mess up. When he didn’t have a perfect game, you’re like, ‘What’s wrong with Justin?’ It’s ridiculous but that’s how good he was.”
As all great players do, Vanderford bounced back in time for the playoffs.
Vanderford remembers the pregame warmups in a sectional game at St. Stephens. Those players and their fans were all staring at East the same way fans did when Vanderford was a freshman. The Mustangs looked like pushovers, which of course, played right into their hands.
Vanderford nudged teammate Kenan McKenzie and said, ‘Look at them. They’re all laughing and joking around. Wait until we jump on ’em.”
Which East did, winning 83-65 as Vanderford scored 20.
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Being underestimated is what faces Vanderford once again. College offers aren’t pouring in for the 5-foot-9 whirling dervish, despite the scoring and passing ability and being named to at least one all-state team.
“I’m waiting,” Vanderford said. “I’ll have to go back to (square one). I’m looking forward to it like I did my freshman year here. I’d come to practice wanting to show everybody what I could do. That’s how I feel now.”
It frustrates McKenzie even more. He remembers talking to one Division I coach who wanted Vanderford as a walk-on.
“The coach said, ‘I think he’s a Division I guard, just not at our level.’
“This wasn’t the ACC,” McKenzie said. “I’m thinking, ‘If he was at your school, he’d be starting by the time he’s a junior. But you don’t know that because you’re going for some kid two inches taller who jumps a little higher ó but he’s not nearly as good.’
“I hope Justin can play at the highest level he can. He’s a Division I player but they look at his height. That doesn’t matter.”
Vanderford is ready for the challenge.
“As far as size, they’ve said that my whole life,” he said. “I can play somewhere. It feels good when you can prove someone wrong.”
That shouldn’t be too difficult for Vanderford to pull off next season. He has been doing that since he first picked up a basketball.
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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com.