Joe Gaiter: What does basketball mean to you?
Marckel McCollum: Basketball to me is an escape room it allows me to step away from the world and real-life problems to focus on the game and becoming better. Basketball is a tool I used all my life to get me into places and this game has showed me that when you take pride and passion in it, the game will love you back.
Joe Gaiter: Tell me about your childhood?
Marckel McCollum: My Childhood growing up I was the youngest out of three, so I always wanted to do what the big kids were doing and play with older people. As I grew up, I start to take notice that playing with older kids helped dominate kids that were around my age. I started off as a football player that was my first love that help transition me into a tough kid. But as I got older, I started to play both football and basketball but basketball won me over because of AAU. The fact that I got to travel and play basketball helped me make my decision on what I wanted to commit myself to 100 percent.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories of Peachtree Ridge High School?
Marckel McCollum: My fondest moment at Peachtree Ridge high school was the Tribe which was the student section, there were always live and hype at our games. They even traveled whenever we played somebody good on the road now that’s real love. And of course, the brotherhood I built with the people that I spent 4 years playing with especially with being a young buck as a sophomore when I started playing varsity for Peachtree Ridge.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment experience?
Marckel McCollum: I was an under recruited player and I was an unsigned senior but that molded me into a dog. Being overlook gave the grind that is still stuck with me today. I went to a few juco reports and unsigned senior camps where jucos started to offer me. I ended up choosing Enterprise state because the seemed the most interested in me and Coach Williams knew I could play right away.
Joe Gaiter: How was your time at Enterprise State Community College?
Marckel McCollum: I only spent one year at Enterprise State. The time I spent there was a learning experience not only on the court but as a young man fresh out of high school six hours away from home. I had to quickly adjust to the juco lifestyle.
Joe Gaiter: Why did you choose Paine College?
Marckel McCollum: I choose to go to Paine because of a family member Pastor Gary Dean. He showed me how important it was to go to a school. He was the man that placed me in the direction of Paine College. I spent my first year at Paine as a Walk on Redshirt, but I was just happy to be back in school after leaving Enterprise State.
Joe Gaiter: What were some of your stats this year?
Marckel McCollum: Some of my stats from this past year against Spring Hill College I put up 21 points, 9 ast , 7 rebs. Against Morehouse College I put up 16 points, 5 rebs . Against Benedict I put up 16 points 3 ast 2 steals and Against Tuskegee I put up 17 points to advance to the next round of the SIAC playoffs.
Joe Gaiter: Paine College was 5-21 last season. What can your team do to turn that around?
Marckel McCollum: We went 5-21 this year but this was our first year with our new head coach Alfred Beard so it was a learning curve for us as a team and for him as a coach. But I feel like we will jell together this next season because we now know what to expect out of each other.
Joe Gaiter: What makes you good at your position?
Marckel McCollum: What makes me good at my position is that I can defend my position well with lockdown defense and I can make open shots as well as shots with a defender on me. My speed and endurance help me stay out on the floor longer then some players. I play with extreme pride and passion if you seen me play then you know this already. What also makes me good at my position is my grind and will to get in the gym I love when I know I’m out working my opponents. My area of improvements are ball handling and also getting to the basket off the dribble. My strengthens are defense and my ability to shoot the ball very well, this past season I went 100% from the free throw line.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
Marckel McCollum: My untold story is I broke both of my feet from 8th grade to junior year I was dealing with fracture on both feet. Making me question was it meant for me to play this game. But all this did was make me stronger I just had to push through because the game has done so much I couldn’t give up hope.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan on using it?
Marckel McCollum: My major is Business Marketing. How I plan on using that degree is by helping sport agencies find athletes and vice versa. Because now in this time frame it’s all about who you know, you never know what door will open for you.
Joe Gaiter: Do you feel like you have reached your athletic peak?
Marckel McCollum: I haven’t reached my athletic peak, yet I feel as if that will come soon within these next two years or so.
Joe Gaiter: What have you learned about yourself as your progress as an athlete?
Marckel McCollum: What I learned about myself is that no matter what has been thrown at me I always have found a way to overcome just by praying, staying true to myself and to the game.
Joe Gaiter: What are you doing during the off-season?
Marckel McCollum: This off season I am staying safe due to COVID-19 but grinding my girlfriend and I run a mile just about everyday as well as hit the weights. I’ve been to a few hoop sessions over this pandemic but really can’t wait until I can get in the gym by myself or with one of my trainers. That’s when I can focus and really get better.
Joe Gaiter: Who inspires you?
Marckel McCollum: Who inspires me is my family. They get up and go to work every day and make sacrifices just for me to be able to play this game. So that’s who I do this for and I won’t stop because everything I do is for them. The bigger picture that’s ahead.
Joe Gaiter: What are you grateful for?
Marckel McCollum: I’m grateful for the people I surround myself with because they not only motivate me but they make sure I take care of my business and keep my head on straight. You have to have people like that in your team so you won’t fall off or settle for less.
