It happens time and time again. Despite the myriad of outlets and opportunities to see players, there are some who get overlooked. In a weird way, that can hamper recruiters in efforts to find championship players. Seniors Greg Pryor and Tre' McLean are prime examples.
 
Pryor had one DI offer when he decided to start his career on the junior college level at Southwestern Illinois College. McLean had DI interest, but when no offer developed, he signed early with DII Queens College.
 
"There are so many different high school guys out there and so many AAU teams with so many different AAU events," coach Matt McCall noted. "It's almost impossible for (coaches) to see everyone."
 
But McCall quickly continued that there are other circumstances at play. "There's also a level of someone like Tre' McLean that's a bit of a late bloomer. He probably really began to grow into his body his freshman year of college. Now the guy goes from being recruited at the DII level to a mid-major-plus/high-major-minus kid.
 
"A lot of the things Greg Pryor brings to the table go unnoticed, especially in an AAU game or high school workout environment. Can you tell how tough physically and mentally Greg Pryor is by watching a workout? Probably not. Do you know that when the game is on the line, you want the ball in his hands? Probably not...it's hard to see in that setting.
 
"You try to identify those things, but a lot of times they go unnoticed."
 
Both joined the program in 2013. Pryor was signed when his soon-to-be JUCO coach Jay Harrington told his friend, new Mocs head coach Will Wade, that his incoming freshman point guard was DI-ready. Harrington then released Pryor from an NLI making him available to the Mocs in June.
 
McLean followed his coach from Queens, Wes Long, when the latter joined the Mocs as an assistant coach. He then he had to patiently wait a year before being able to play due to NCAA transfer rules. Both had some early struggles from a shooting standpoint, but neither wavered in their effort and impact in building a championship foundation in the Scenic City.
 
"It's the faith in yourself and knowing you've put in the work," Pryor shared. "Eventually it comes back around. There aren't always good times. There's going to be bad times and adversity, but you have to have faith in your work ethic, and the process of what you're doing off the court when people aren't watching.
 
"It's going to show when it needs to show and come back around when it needs to. You don't just give up on it because it's not going well at the time. Just keep with it."
 
Pryor's first season, the Mocs won 18 games, a five-win improvement over 2013-14. That went up another four to 22 in McLean's first season. It culminated with a school-record 29 victories last year. McLean earned first team All-Southern Conference, while Pryor's play in helping lead the squad to its 11th SoCon Tournament title led to tourney MVP honors.
 
Great individual efforts? Not hardly, if you take their word for it.
 
"Our team culture helps a lot," McLean quickly stated. "One person is not superior to everyone else. We're all equal and are working together toward the same goal. That helps when a guy comes in who feels like, maybe I've been "slept on" or I'm not as highly thought of as some of my teammates. When you have an environment that's more like a family, it's an environment where no one is left behind. It helps a lot with your morale and confidence because no matter what, your teammates and coaches have your back.
 
"Guys like 'GP' and I, we had the confidence to do these things and be successful because we know that people who matter the most have our back."
 
They affect the game in many ways. Both have had their share of big baskets. Last year, Pryor keyed the win at Dayton. It was arguably the most impressive of the 29, with a huge 3pt at the under four timeout, along with the game-winning free throws. He also hit a huge three late in the home win over Mercer, rising over his defender.
 
McLean was a crucial figure in a dramatic 10-0 run to flip the score in the SoCon opener late in the win at The Citadel. He had two huge efforts in the regular season wins over ETSU as well, but he's show a knack for winning as the Mocs 40-10 record in games he's started attests.
 
What's next for this dynamic, unheralded duo and their teammates?
 
"We can't just bank on the plays we made last year, but they bring us confidence," Pryor added. "We know there are a lot more plays and crunch-time decisions where we are tested this season. We need to build on the foundation we have, and the work we've put in during the offseason. It all ties together in having the confidence in the work you've put in."
 
It didn't take long for McCall to see the chip these two play with or the effort that goes into their preparation. He suggests that's exactly why they've developed into two of the best at their respective positions.
 
"The reason Tre' and Greg are at where they are right now is because of their work ethic and their makeup and mindset," said the second-year ball coach. "That's the bottom line. There's no secret...no magic dust you sprinkle over their heads. It's because of how bad they want to be really, really good players, and how they've kept their focus on the team and winning. That's why they're where they are today."
 
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