1st LAR Bn. Marine shoots to attain higher goal

Photo By Sgt. Dean Davis | Cpl. James M. McClendon, a supply administration clerk with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5, lays up one more before dusk at Camp Korean Village, Iraq. "I was told that I would never make junior varsity. I made the JV team. I was told that I would never make varsity- I made varsity. I was told that I would never play professional ball, but my scouting report is pretty good and I plan to go on and pursue that goal now. If I had a motto for the sport it's simple: 'Don't ever give up.'"  

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, IRAQ

10.24.2008

Story by Sgt. Dean Davis 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

By Cpl. Dean Davis
I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward

CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq - When it comes to basketball, you might expect to find a prospective pro on the court practicing jump shots and passes. You might find him at a pro combine running back rebounds with all he has left under the watchful eyes of scouts. Where you might not expect to find him is supporting the mission of a light-armored infantry battalion here in al Anbar province, Iraq.

Cpl. James M. McClendon, a supply administration clerk with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 5 recently caught the attention of several scouts in both Japan and Philadelphia before deploying.

"When I saw him play in Japan I could see his drive and love for the game," said Adrian "Ace" Custis, former Dallas Mavericks player and mentor for McClendon. "I look forward to his debut playing pro, but there's only one thing that will get him there: hard work.

Standing at just over six feet, short by pro standards, making it to professional leagues is another challenge of the many he's already put behind him, explained McClendon, who dunked his first ball at age 14.

"I started playing seriously between eighth and ninth grade, and I never was really the athletic type-actually I was kind of a nerd," said McClendon, now 21. "I was told that I would never make junior varsity- I made the JV team. I was told that I would never make varsity- I made varsity. I was told that I would never play professional ball, but my scouting report is pretty good and I plan to go on and pursue that goal now."

After his success while playing in high school, he turned his attention toward military service.

"When I came into the Marine Corps I asked about playing basketball, and I guess that kind of persuaded me to join a little," said McClendon, from Philadelphia. "Just because you didn't play in college or people say you can't do it doesn't mean anything. Look at Michael Jordan. He didn't even make the varsity team, but he went on to become the greatest player who ever played the game."

After becoming a Marine he wanted to stay on the East Coast near his daughter, but the Corps had different plans, which worked out pretty well, explained McClendon.

"I ended up in Japan and while I was there I had the opportunity to enjoy the culture and also the chance to play with the Japanese," said McClendon. "Their style is a lot different from the Americans'. They run a lot of drills and play a really fast game."

McClendon said that after this deployment he plans to head back overseas to take a shot at playing alongside his brother, now in Japan with the Panasonic Trians.

"I would also someday like to coach high school or college ball, and share my knowledge and motivate younger people to enjoy the sport."

For now his dream to ascend the professional ranks will have to wait as a more immediate mission lies ahead, but that hasn't changed his mind about the future.

"Passion for the sport is my motivation," said McClendon. "If I had a motto for the sport it's simple: 'Don't ever give up.' –And I won't."

• Date Taken: 10.24.2008
• Date Posted: 10.31.2008 15:08
• Story ID: 25786
• Location: CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, IQ