"Big Country’s Next Frontier: The Rise of a Relentless Worker"

Will McCrary

@willmccarary_22

6’5 with a 7-foot wingspan

Class of 2026

Jackson County HS, TN

Committed to Maryville College

When people talk about genuine grinders, the rare ones built from sweat, belief, and a stubborn refusal to quit, they talk about players like Will “Big Country” McCrary. His journey didn’t come wrapped in guarantees or shortcuts. It started with a quiet belief that slowly grew louder. By his freshman year, he noticed the work was starting to show. By his sophomore year, he averaged a double-double and realized this dream was real. And after Jackson County’s run to the state tournament, everything changed. His phone lit up. Coaches called. Opportunities opened. Big Country had finally arrived in the conversation, not because someone handed him a path, but because he outworked his way into it.

But behind the rise came moments that tested him. Moments where doubt crept in as he watched others who seemed ahead. He had every reason to question himself, but he leaned on a truth spoken into him since he was young. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Instead of folding, he stayed focused. Instead of comparing himself to someone else’s progress, he built his own. Every day, he pushed, trained, climbed, and chipped away at anything that tried to hold him back.

The biggest turning point came when he met Bailey Gilliam, a coach who poured belief, knowledge, and relentless guidance into him. Bailey worked him mentally and physically, shaping both his game and his mindset. That summer was transformational. Big Country saw real improvement, real evolution, and real momentum. Practices, workouts, skill sessions, and then more work again when he got home. The grind was lived when no one was clapping, no one was praising, and no one was watching. That was the foundation that built everything that came next.

And then came the moment Maryville entered the picture. Coach P called with an energy Will instantly connected to. Coach Chip reached out and told him how special Coach P truly was. When Will visited campus, Coach P called him Big Country from the first second, as if the nickname had always been his. Snow covered the ground. Coaches greeted him like family. And from the moment he stepped inside, he felt seen, valued, wanted. They put everything into that visit. Rings lay out on the film room table. Staff members radiating passion. His name shining on the videoboard when he walked into the gym. It wasn’t just hospitality. It was a message. We want you here. We believe in you.

The culture felt real. The chemistry felt genuine. And the people felt like home. Big Country knew immediately that this was where he belonged.

The journey to this moment wouldn’t have been possible without the people who pushed him and stayed in his corner. His teammates have been the brothers who kept him sharp and lifted him through obstacles. His trainers stretched him to limits he didn’t know he had. But his biggest motivators have always been his parents. They have supported every step, every tournament, every mile traveled, every dream chased. They allowed him to play travel basketball, drove him toward opportunities, and made sure he knew that whatever he dreamed was possible. They believed in him long before the rest of the world saw it.

And through everything, his faith remained the anchor. Church means everything to Will. His youth group gives him strength. His parents send him motivational scripture every morning. Coach Chip and the Tigers program pour encouragement into him daily. His relationship with Jesus Christ keeps him grounded, humble, and grateful. He knows every blessing came from God, every breakthrough was guided, and every obstacle shaped him. His faith is not a footnote. It is the engine behind his purpose.

Now that his commitment is locked in, a weight has lifted from his shoulders. The pressure is gone, and what remains is freedom. Freedom to lead, freedom to elevate, and freedom to chase something even bigger with his Jackson County brothers. This season, Big Country wants one thing- a Gold Ball. His teammates share that hunger. And he makes it clear that none of this is about him alone. He credits the guards at Jackson County, calling them the most underrated backcourt in the state. He shouts out Parker Patterson, Alex Meadows, Aden Netherton, and Isiah Thomas as absolute killers who deserve recognition. He thanks Coach Kevin Thomas and Coach BJ Upchurch for pouring into him every single day.

Big Country is heading to Maryville with a promise. He will do what he has always done. Outwork everyone, earn everything, and bring effort, intensity, and hunger every moment he is on campus. He is stepping in not just as a recruit but as someone ready to contribute, ready to grow, and ready to honor the trust Maryville placed in him.

For the young athletes chasing the next level, his message is simple, " Work, then work again, and then work more. Hard work builds character. Hard work brings growth. Hard work opens the doors that talent alone can’t. If you aren’t blessed with natural gifts, clock in and outwork everyone around you. That is the formula". That is the truth.

And as he steps into this new chapter, he sends love to his teammates, his coaches, his family, his trainers, and the entire Jackson County community. Big Country is not done. He is just getting started.

Big Country’s presence elevates any team he joins. His relentless motor, long frame, and willingness to outwork everyone around him create real value at the college level. Maryville is gaining a competitor who embraces physicality, thrives in tough moments, and brings leadership shaped by discipline and humility. His mindset, maturity, and commitment to improvement will strengthen the program’s culture and add depth through multiple roles.

Will enters the next chapter with momentum and purpose. Expect him to grow rapidly as he continues developing under strong coaching and a culture built to maximize his strengths. His work ethic, size, and hunger for improvement position him to become a contributor early in his career. With his faith rooted, his confidence rising, and his competitive fire burning, Big Country has the potential to carve out a meaningful college legacy and become a cornerstone piece for Maryville’s future.