Student Athlete Spotlight: Trailblazer Vernon Cross

Student Athlete Spotlight- by Jaclyn Candelet

If you take a glance at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) men's basketball roster you will notice only three seniors, one of those seniors being Vernon Cross. Cross transferred to MCLA from Schenectady Community College and has played an important role on the court.

Cross who resides in Loudonville, New York attended Shaker High School before attending Schenectady Community College, but said it was his roots of growing up in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and knowing Coach Jamie Morrison that brought him to MCLA. "I started elementary school in Pittsfield and wanted to come back home where it was easy for my friends and family to watch me play," said Cross.

In seventh grade Cross picked up a basketball, but when he entered high school he wanted to stop playing and start running track. With his father hearing his decision of wanting to switch sports he encouraged him to work even harder and to keep playing. Between the inspiration of his father and his older brother he continued to play basketball. "I wasn't that good of a player in high school," said Cross. "I couldn't dribble and I couldn't shoot." Those skills may have been the reasons that Cross wanted to stop playing basketball, but figured he would put in long hours in at the gym and work on his weaknesses.

With Cross' hard work and determination he has become a threat to opponents. In 2011 Cross played in all 27 of the Trailblazers games, starting in five of them. Offensively he averaged over 8 ppg in his role as a sixth man.  He was a threat in the post as well as beyond the three point arc.

Part of Cross' success comes from playing in front of fans. "When I was at Schenectady Community College there weren't many fans," said Cross. "Here at MCLA people have school pride and come to events."

Head coach Jamie Morrison speaks highly of Cross as he was named captain this year.  Morrison has been impressed early on stating,  "Vern has stepped up his leadership as a senior on and off the court.  He is committed to the program and putting forth the necessary work in the preseason.  That effort should translate into an improved season both for him and the program."

Vernon Cross and the Trailblazers will open up their season tonight at 7:00 PM and he has two goals this year for his teammates; to improve their record from last year and win the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship.