It has been an interesting ride for graduate student Casey Jones. He's entering his fifth year in the program after a medical redshirt due to an ankle injury that derailed his season eight games into last year. While he's played for three head coaches, he's had plenty of familiar faces along for the ride.
 
Jones joined the Mocs in the fall of 2012. Eric Robertson and Alex Bran made the trek with him over the first four years. They graduated, but he'll also spend four years alongside Greg Pryor, Tre' McLean and Justin Tuoyo.
 
So what brought this group so close?
 
"It's unselfishness, and the general caring we have as individuals for each other," Jones explained. "Before we even came together as people, it's just coincidental that so many caring individuals came together on one team. That, coupled with everyone being genuinely good people, is why we became so close."
 
Jones, McLean and Tuoyo truly emphasize how tight this Mocs family is. Through it all, they stayed together. The trio graduated in May essentially becoming the equivalent of "restricted free agents" with the option of transferring and playing immediately at another school that has a graduate program of study Chattanooga doesn't offer.
 
"We understand that basketball brought us to Chattanooga, but the decision (to stay) was more about off the court than on it," McLean shared. "It wasn't, per se, a basketball decision. In the end though, that's exactly what it was.
 
"We really care about each other. Chuck (Ester) and Greg (Pryor) had a lot to do with it. They couldn't go with us...we definitely didn't want to leave them behind. We came here together and built this together. We want to finish this together."
 
Jones concurred, "It's the genuine care we have for each other...it's beyond basketball. Those guys are my best friends. You can't just leave them out to dry. Tre' said it the other day, he could've left to go somewhere else, but he couldn't leave G.P. out to dry. G.P. couldn't leave if Tre' did, so it's about each other. If I was to leave, then I'm leaving Chuck behind.
 
"It's not about what's best for yourself. You wouldn't do something that wasn't best for your brother (too)."
 
McLean's story is especially prevalent. He joined the program when former head coach Will Wade hired Wes Long as an assistant. Long was McLean's coach at Queens where the tough, hard-nosed guard transferred from in summer 2013.
 
When Wade moved on to VCU, Long followed after Matt McCall's hiring. McCall had some recruiting to do with the Charleston, S.C., native.
 
"It was evident to me, when I first got here, how close these guys were," said McCall. "My staff and I had to develop trust with that group not only through our words but in our actions.
 
"Tre' is one of the most emotional players I've ever coached. Relationships are extremely important to him. I identified that after meeting with him for the first time. I tried to explain to him that just because I was a head coach now, it didn't change who I am or what I am about.
 
"That piece of it, the relationship side of coaching, it's why I got in this business."
 
According to McLean, it was an emotional time. But the family nature of the Mocs program kept him close, and he's not regretted his decision.
 
"With Coach McCall, we had some stuff to work on," McLean added. "But I put as much trust now in Coach McCall as anyone. Coach McCall stayed positive. He knew the transition wasn't going to be easy for me, but he told me to have faith and confidence. If I trusted him, I was going to like the results."
 
After a year leading this group, McCall is still struck by just how close his squad is and how welcoming they are with new players coming in.
 
"We talk about our culture every day. A large part of that culture is love, care and acceptance for everyone in the program. Our senior class embodies that and understands their individual success is dependent on the people in the locker room with them.
 
"We had so much success last year because of our connected-ness. They know in order for us to get back to the top of the mountain, we have to be the most connected program in the country again."
 
Season tickets are available on GoMocs.com at the link above or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
 
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