Since he was young, Clarence 'CJ' McCarthy-Grogan always strived to live life outside of his comfort zone, a trait that sees the young athlete study and compete thousands of kilometres from home.
Having two US College Championships under his belt already, CJ earned his third over the weekend as his team, the University of Texas at Arlington’s (UTA) wheelchair basketball team Movin’ Mavs, won against Alabama.
Not only going home with the championship, but CJ also took out MVP – a true “fairytale ending”.
The winning celebration as UTA brings it home. Source: Supplied
“Winning on our home floor, in my senior year, with my family and friends around me made it that much more special. I still can't believe it,” he said.
"I got subbed out at the end of the game, with only two minutes left. The coaches did that to give me my senior send-off. Even that felt surreal, just knowing that we did it. We got the job done, we stuck together throughout the whole tournament, throughout the whole season.”
The Yanyuwa, Garrawa, Kuku-Yalanji man first got a taste for the sport in 2004 while going to school in Alice Springs.
"It all started with really wanting to just play basketball at school with my mates. I grew up in primary school playing a lot of able-bodied sports,” he said.
Born with a fibular limb deficiency, meaning his right leg didn’t form properly, CJ moved home to Darwin and tested out wheelchair basketball – immediately falling in love.
With a competitive streak and a passion for community and family, team sports was something that came naturally.
"I'm very family orientated . . . I grew up with a lot of cousins, my brothers, our sisters and our mob, it was normal for me,” he said.
"I'm a pretty competitive person when it comes to playing wheelchair basketball, I'm a pretty chilled down-to-earth guy and a bit goofy off the court.
"It surprises people . . . but as my coach always says, you can be two different people. When you’re getting ready to go on the court, it’s like getting ready for work. You have a job to do.”
Alongside an incredible basketball career, CJ is also a Public Health student at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).
3x US College Champion and MVP, Clarence McCarthy-Grogan. Source: Supplied
“I’m a student-athlete, we’re students first,” he laughed.
Graduating in May, CJ has plans to return home and bring his passion for the sport to the Top End.
“I’m joining the Darwin Salties. We're affiliated with the NBL1 Darwin Salties, it's the first time Darwin has had a National Wheelchair Basketball League team playing in the NWBL,” said CJ.
“I'm very excited to be part of that inaugural team.
“I’m looking forward to coming back home to family and friends, joining a new team and making wheelchair basketball a bigger sport in the Top End.”
Things have come full circle for the young star, who hopes his next move can inspire others to get involved.
"I started my college career with a National Championship back in 2017 and I'm finishing it now with a National Championship here, but now to be able to come home and help start the first Darwin NWBL team as well - that was always a goal of mine,” he said.
"I'm just this fulla from Darwin! I didn't know how big the world was! But I’m hoping I can bring back all the knowledge and experience I have and pass that onto other people."
