Cortney Braswell, as did so many others, had to have the difficult conversation with McClendon Curtis.
Braswell, a Chattanooga native who is now the inside linebackers coach at the University of Cincinnati, was the head football coach at Central High School in 2016 and 2017. Among his players with the Purple Pounders was Curtis, already 6-foot-6, 300 pounds at the end of his high school days and a two-sport college prospect who enjoyed football but had a bit of a preference for basketball.
With an eye on the Central standout’s long-term athletic career and whether Curtis would be more likely to succeed in the NFL or the NBA, Braswell brought up wide receiver Julio Jones, point guard Steve Nash and the matter of how each was 6-3 — and how that meant different things in different sports.
“We were sitting down talking on basketball,” Braswell said. “I think he kind of knew (football was the right move) because he’s a real self-aware kid, and I think he just wanted somebody to believe in him. I remember talking to him about Julio Jones and saying, ‘Would you say Julio was one of the most dynamic, physically gifted players that has ever played the game of football?’ And McClendon said, ‘Yeah, he’s a freak.’ I told him, ‘He’s the same exact height as Steve Nash.’
“I told him it was the same thing for him. There’s tons of 6-5 guys that are really skilled and gifted and can play three or four positions (in basketball), but you can be one of these NFL guys who has a chance to play on Sundays because you’re an absolute unit.”