LAFAYETTE, California — When Mallory McGwire took an unofficial visit to Eugene in April, she knew exactly what she was going to do. The Oregon coaching staff, on the other hand, had no idea.
After a personalized meeting in an empty Matthew Knight Arena, McGwire, a two-time Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year and five-star rated center, hinted she was curious if a No. 44 jersey would still be available on the Ducks’ roster.
“They were shocked,” McGwire said. “I knew they were excited, but they were over-the-top ecstatic.”
Both assistant coach Mark Campbell and head coach Kelly Graves jumped up and down and embraced her — a moment she will never forget.
When she signs her letter of intent in November, McGwire will officially join a 2016 class that Graves has said “will define our program forever.”
From the onset, the Ducks and Graves had an instant connection with the highly recruited 6-foot-4 McGwire. She talked with plenty of Pac-12 coaches, but Graves visited her hometown of Reno, Nevada at least three times. Graves told McGwire he doesn’t usually visit a city more than twice.
“It was super special that he cared that much to come out to my games,” McGwire said, “and during their season too.”
She loves that Oregon, under Graves’ leadership, isn’t solely focused on basketball. The program is more of a family than a team.
“[The coaches] wanted Mallory, and she wants to be a part of the foundation for a successful program,” her father, Dan McGwire, said.
Mallory ultimately came to the decision on her own. She watched her older sister Morgan, now playing basketball at Santa Clara, go through the recruiting process just a few years before.
She’s currently a part of a five-member recruiting class that was recently ranked the fourth-best in the nation by ProspectsNation.com. As it stands now, McGwire is the highest ranked recruit at Oregon by ESPN HoopGurlz and designated as No. 31 in the nation.
Kelly Sopak, McGwire’s club coach, detected a change in McGwire’s attitude last summer. Instead of being simply the tallest on the court, McGwire embraced basketball and her ability. At the high school level, she dominated in 2014-15, averaging 21.8 points and 14.3 rebounds along with 6.9 blocked shots.
“Her best basketball is so far ahead of her, it’s unfathomable to think of how good she can be,” Sopak said.
Recently, McGwire has gotten to know her future UO teammates in a group message and on social media. Before her commitment she knew their names, but the community of the class solidified her decision.
She follows every tweet, photo or announcement from the coaches. Her father said she cycles through her green and yellow wardrobe regularly. Her family is in the process of moving to a new home in Reno, but they expect her room to be filled with Duck gear when she redecorates.
Because many of her future teammates compete in the same prestigious summer tournaments, she has coordinated quick face-to-face visits with them in Portland and Nashville, Tennessee. She’s thrilled to meet them in person for the first time.
Her club team is based in Easy Bay Area and her father admitted they don’t see their daughter much during the summer. But the exposure and coaching Sopak provides has only elevated her game.
“It’s a big, big commitment. But she does it and she loves the kids on that team,” her father said.
Sopak said McGwire will benefit from the relationship and rapport Oregon offers.
“I have a lot of confidence in Kelly [Graves]’ ability to develop post players and I think that’s what Mallory needs,” Sopak said. “She needs someone to help her realize her full potential.”
McGwire’s felt a lot of pressure taken off since committing. She feels like she’s already been accepted into the Oregon family.
“I want to be there now,” McGwire said. “I’m so excited. … I can’t wait to be there to experience it.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne