Julie McBride is SU’s all-time leader in points (1,605).
The Greatest Honor
2/5/2007 1:49:23 PM | Women's Basketball
Julie McBride put up some impressive numbers at Catholic Central High School (CCHS) in Troy N.Y.
McBride had another number put up in her former home gym on Dec. 27 – the No. 13 jersey she wore with the Crusaders.
CCHS honored McBride, a First-Team All-New York selection in 1999-2000, in front of invited family and friends in a private ceremony on Dec. 27.
With her high school coach and principal in attendance, McBride received one of the greatest honors in sports, the knowledge that she was and all ways will be the greatest player to ever wear her number 13. And after hearing words from Principal Mike Pitak and Coach Chris LaBomBard the Crusaders unveiled McBride’s jersey hanging from the rafters.
After McBride graduated from CCHS, Coach LaBomBard decided not to let anyone wear No. 13 because she new one day that she would be retiring the number.
“It was all my coaches doing. She has stood by my side since the day I enrolled at CCHS,” McBride said. “She and my family believed in me from the beginning.”
McBride led Section 2 in scoring, averaging 30.8 points per game her senior season. She set a single-game school record with 47 points. The Troy County Player of the Year, McBride was a four-time All-City and All-Conference selection. She was named conference MVP as a senior and earned the Catholic High Basketball Coaches Award. A two-time NYS Section 2 All-Tournament team selection, McBride scored her 1,000th career point as a junior.
McBride moved on to Syracuse where she became SU’s all-time leader in points (1,605), scoring average (14.2), 3-point field goals made (229), free throws made (348), assists (574), assist average (5.1), minutes played (3,964), minutes played average (35.1), 3-point field goals attempted (707) and field goals attempted (1,378). McBride also ranks fifth all-time in field goals made (514), seventh in 3-point percentage (.324, min. 30 made), fourth in free throws attempted (452), fifth in free-throw percentage (.770, min. 50 made), seventh in steals (202), eighth in games played (113) and third in games started (93).
Current Syracuse head women’s basketball coach Quentin Hillsman and the rest of the 2006-07 Orange squad are familiar with McBride’s accomplishments at SU.
“Julie’s name is all over Syracuse’s record books,” Hillsman said. “She is clearly one of the best players to wear an Orange jersey.”
McBride competed for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA and the San Jose Spiders of the NWBL. She currently plays in Turkey where she is leading the league in assists, is fourth in steals and sixth in points.
“I love Turkey and most likely will be staying in Turkey for a while,” McBride said. “I have done very well this year because of the fast system our team runs. Hopefully I can get another shot at the WNBA this summer.”
As for the ceremony at CCHS, McBride said she was happy to share the moment with the people who truly believe in her and who love here for who she is.
“The ceremony was awesome and everything I could ask for,” McBride said. “I could not have asked for a better honor.”
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