Tracy McGrady Biography Tracy McGrady biography Tracy Lamar McGrady was born on May 24,1979 in Bartow, Florida. He was the product of an area called the Hill in Auburndale, a quaint town of about 9,000 surrounded by lakes, halfway between Orlando and Tampa. His family has been a major influence in his life. His mom, Melanise Williford, and his grandmother, Roberta, raised me. He eventually grew to know both women as "mom". His mother worked as a chambermaid at a Disney World hotel. She made a daily 90-minute commute, from her home near Tampa, in order to get to work each day to support the family. His dad, Tracy McGrady Sr. has had his separate life, but that does not mean he hasn’t been there for Tracy. He’s been around, and he has done whatever he can for Tracy. Tracy has been a good athlete during his highschools days. Aside from being good in basketball, he was also a good baseball pitcher. When Tracy grew and reach the hight of 6-4, he focus on one game and that was basketball. During the summer of his junior year, he joined the Adidas ABCD basketball camp. A lot of people were shocked including coaches and scouts because of his skills. Coach Joel Hopkins of Mt. Zion Christian academy took a special interest in Tracy. He invited Tracy to attend North Carolina school. Hopkins believed that Tracy was talented- he just lacked structure. During his highschol days, Tracy was studying at Mt. Zion. In that school players are not allowed to curse, listen to rap, wear jewelry, have girlfriends, or miss Church service. Tracy and his family think that Mt. Zion is a best option for Tracy, and I think it was. He finished his senior year by recieving the HighSchool player of the year by USA today. Kentucky was Tracy’s choice for his college education. Scouts said that Tracy was the best player in the ’97 draft, maybe best player in all orth Carolina, ( including universities and the Charlotte Hornets ). Tracy McGrady went directly to pro and he was drafted 9th overall to Toronto Raptors. he coaching staff there said he wouldn last 3 years. Tracy had to adjust to all the criticism, the cold weather, and the coaching staff that didn! -P| -Ht allow him much playing time. In 1999, Vince Carter ( Tmac 2nd cousin ) was drafted by the Raptors. Both of them were good players, they reached the playoff in 1999-2000, but they were sweep in the 1st round. During the summer, Tracy pack up his things and went to play for the Magics. T his season, Orlando Magics reached the playoffs but they were eliminated in the 1st round, but Tracy was named the NBA most improved player. And he was also voted as an All- Star starter. Tracy McGrady, making the leap from high school to the NBA, was selected on the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, the ninth player chosen overall, and averaged 7.0 ppg as an 18-year-old rookie. He enjoyed a solid second season in 1998-99 when he solidified his status as one of the league’s most versatile stars of the future. McGrady played one year at Mount Zion Christian Academy in North Carolina after originally attending Auburndale High School in Florida. As a senior, he averaged 27.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 2.8 steals per game, shooting .564 from field, .389 from three-point range and .791 from free throw line. He was named the USA Today Player of the Year and the Player of the Year in the state of North Carolina by The Associated Press and also was named to the McDonald’s All-America Team. In Magic’s Roundball Classic, he shot 6-for-7 from the field, sinking his only three-point attempt, and scored 13 points. McGrady appeared in 64 games as a rookie, making 17 starts including the final 11 games of the season. He averaged 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. He played in 49 of 50 games in 1998-99, all but two off the bench, and increased his averaged to 9.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in just 22.6 minutes per game. He also was among the team leaders in steals and blocks.
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