Gary McLain facts for kids

Gary McLain is a former American college basketball player. He played as a point guard for Villanova University and was a key part of their team that won a big championship in 1985.

Gary McLain's Basketball Journey

High School and College Years

Gary McLain was a very talented point guard in high school at Methuen High School. A "point guard" is like the team's leader on the court, who helps set up plays and passes the ball. Many colleges wanted him to play for their teams. He chose to go to Villanova University.

He joined Villanova's basketball team in 1981. He was part of a special group of new players, including Ed Pinckney and Dwayne McClain. They were even called "The Expansion Crew"! Gary played basketball from 1981 to 1985. He also earned a degree in Communication Arts.

The 1985 Championship Win

In 1985, Gary McLain was the starting point guard for the Villanova Wildcats. That year, his team played against Georgetown University in the championship game. This game was for the NCAA title, which is a huge college basketball tournament.

Georgetown was a very strong team and was expected to win easily. But Villanova surprised everyone! They won the game 66–64. This victory is famous as one of the biggest "upsets" in college basketball history. An "upset" is when the team that is expected to lose actually wins. This exciting game is even talked about in a book called The Perfect Game.

After College Basketball

After college, Gary McLain was chosen by the New Jersey Nets in the 1985 NBA draft. The NBA draft is where professional basketball teams pick new players. He was also chosen by the Wildwood Aces of the United States Basketball League. However, he did not play for either team professionally.

Later, he worked as a recruiter for a company called TLA Consultants.