Chris Looney was, three years ago, the last Verona High School basketball player to score 1,000 career points. Brian Farrell, the newest player to achieve that milestone, said he was inspired by Looney’s performance to seek the goal for himself. Looney is now a junior at Colgate University and he followed Farrell in the playoff game last night thanks to several people texting him from the bleachers. Here’s what Looney told us, via Facebook, about Farrell’s accomplishment and the coach that helped him to it:
“I was able to talk to him [Farrell] last night after the game, and just told him what an incredible accomplishment it was. He was a freshman when I was a senior, and though he did not play much on varsity that year, from watching him compete in practice and play on JV everyone around the team knew we had a very special player on our hands. Brian is a leader, he is fearless on the court, and he is a great teammate. Off the court, he is just a great person in every aspect of life. There is no better person this could have happened to, and he deserved it. He worked so hard for it, and to see all his hard work pay off is incredible to see. He’s a great young man, and its been a pleasure to watch him play not only throughout high school. but since he was in fifth grade as well … . I really don’t have enough good things to say about him, and couldn’t be more proud today.
“Also, I have to talk about Mac [VHS Basketball Head Coach Eric McElroy]. The environment, encouragement, and coaching he provides for us is just stellar. I know I give him a lot of credit for everything I’ve accomplished, not just in basketball, but in football and in life. He has been one of the best influences on my life, and I’m sure Brian would be of the same opinion. Mac cares about his players more than everything, and I have so much respect for him as a coach and as a person.
“… (What) I’m trying to get at here is how great a young man Brian is, how much he deserves it, and what a great program he has been a part of, thanks to Mac. This is Brian’s moment, and he deserves it more than anyone. Can’t wait to watch the rest of the playoffs!”
