McMahon joins Ridley’s OSBA program

It was an agonizing decision but Cormac McMahon has decided to leave A.N. Myer to play Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association hoops with the Ridley College Tigers.
“It was very hard and I almost stayed, but it was for the better to go to Ridley,” the 16-year-old Niagara Falls resident said.
McMahon feels it is the next progression in his hoops career.
“Although Myer was great for me and it was my home for three years, it wasn’t enough and Ridley is the next step to obtain my goal of playing at the university level.”
The 6-foot-5 player said the deciding factor was Ridley’s program and its coach, Tarry Upshaw. McMahon played for Pat Sullivan’s and Upshaw’s Niagara Tigers AAU basketball program the past two seasons. His parents were also interested in him joining Ridley.
McMahon, a former member of the Niagara Falls Red Raiders travel program, is looking forward to playing for Upshaw.
“He’s very outgoing and a great guy, but you can tell that when it comes time, he makes you work hard and he gets things out of you.”

The Grade 12 student isn’t expecting things to be handed to him at Ridley.
“I know it is going to be hard and coach Pat (Sullivan) told me I had to basically transform my body to be prepared for the speed and the strength of the next level.”
He has already started to work on getting stronger, hitting the weight room four times a week. He is motivated by his goal to play university basketball.
“It’s my love for the game and it’s just fun to play basketball,” he said. “I enjoy playing at the next level.”
McMahon feels he has made good strides towards obtaining his goal.
“Coach Pat established a platform for me to get scouted and seen by Ridley especially and I don’t think without that program I would be going to Ridley.”
He is a much different player even from a year ago.
“I have developed my ball handling speed-wise and I have really transformed from more of a post player to being able to go out on the wing and shoot.”
He knows those skills be required if he wants to play university hoops.
McMahon is looking forward to the entire Ridley experience.
“It will be fun to meet new people and the school looked great,” he said. “I am very excited to go there and I just want to get to know everybody and focus on basketball.”
Over the past two spring/summer seasons with the Niagara Tigers, Sullivan has seen McMahon prove he can compete with some of the best players in Ontario and beyond.
“He has a lot of versatility on offence with the ability to score from the perimeter and also be creative in finishing around the basket with either hand,” he said. “He is an excellent rebounder and is working towards becoming more vocal and active defensively.
“He was a match-up problem for the majority of teams we faced and the focal point of a lot of the offensive schemes we employed.”
A number of prep teams expressed an interest in him and Sullivan feels Ridley is a good choice for McMahon.
“Ridley offers a tremendous academic reputation and allows him to stay near home and it became clear is was a great fit for him.”
Sullivan knows it wasn’t an easy choice to make.
“When you want to be great at something, you often have to take risks,” he said. “I applaud Cormac for taking on the challenge of competing in such a high level league and getting out of his comfort zone.”