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Published: 6/9/2012 | Updated: 6/17/2013
By MATT SCHUCKMAN
Herald-Whig Sports Writer
Evan McGaughey received a solid piece of advice from Quincy University assistant men's basketball coach Jon Perry about playing in Saturday's McDonald's/Herald-Whig Classic. "He said make it look good for the fans," McGaughey said. Then his future coach added something more pointed and serious. "And don't get hurt," the Illini West product said he was told. "Just don't get hurt." Perry and QU head coach Marty Bell will be hoping and praying McGaughey and Pittsfield's Dalton Hoover, both QU signees and part of the Illinois boys' powerful front court, showcase their talents and avoid any hiccups in their prime-time debut at QU's Pepsi Arena. It's the first time the future Hawks will play together publicly, and they know all eyes will be on them. "Of course," Hoover said. "More than anyone else, it's up to us to put on a show because it basically is our home court now." QU couldn't ask for anything better. Hoover, the 6-foot-6 two-time all-stater who led the Saukees to a Class 2A regional title last winter after helping them to a fourth-place state finish the year before, signed with the Hawks last November after growing increasingly comfortable with the coaches and his home digs. He first played in Pepsi Arena last July during some pickup games and looks forward to the next four years. "I'm comfortable on it now," Hoover said. McGaughey is getting acclimated nicely, too. The 6-7 all-stater rebounded from offseason knee surgery to help Illini West win 20 games and put together one of the area's longest winning streaks at 14 games during the second half of last season. His improved mobility as the season progressed persuaded QU coaches to sign him in the spring. Now, McGaughey wants to show everyone else what those coaches could see. "I want to show my ability a little bit more," McGaughey said. "Being healthier and able to move better, I can show them what I can do." That's a little of everything, just like Hoover. McGaughey averaged 18.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, three blocks and three assists per game last winter, while being able to step out and hit the 3-pointer and knock down better than 70 percent of his free throws. Meanwhile, Hoover averaged 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 1.7 assists per game, while hitting 32 3-pointers and shooting 73 percent from the line. It sounds like it could be a potent tandem. "It will be awesome that we'll finally be teaming up together," McGaughey said. So just how will their games stack up together? "Well ...," Hoover said, not sure how to answer. "We've never played together or against each other." Despite being the centerpiece of their respective offenses the last couple of years and two of the area's most talked about big men, Hoover and McGaughey never squared off. They knew plenty about each other, though. "Being in the area, you kind of know all the athletes and what they're doing," McGaughey said. Once they became future teammates, they started to create more of a bond. "We've hung out, we've been here, we've talked," Hoover said. Now, they get to be headliners for the next four years. -- mschuckman@whig.com/221-3366
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