Contact: Sam Fretto, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu
Dec. 12, 2024- As his time at North Central College moves closer to a conclusion, North Central men’s basketball senior Terrance Moncrief reflects on his time as a Cardinal and expresses gratitude for everyone who got him here specifically, his teammates and coaches, his family, and God.
Moncrief has been a part of North Central basketball his entire collegiate career, being recruited his senior year of high school. Despite interest from other schools in the area, North Central felt like home. “I came out on a visit, and it was everything I wanted it to be.”
Basketball is a core identity of Moncrief, as he has been playing basketball his entire life. “I have been playing basketball since I was three years old. My first taste of organized basketball was around second or third grade, playing for YMCA teams,”
“My mom always found a way to make it happen for our family. On Christmas Day, she always made sure we had everything we asked for or made sure we had food on the table and a roof over our head,” Moncrief said.
Moncrief’s father is another influential part of his life, as his dad played basketball growing up and passed it down to him. “My dad grew up playing basketball too, and it was sort of thrown at me to see if I liked it or not. Lo and behold, I loved it.”
He continues, “My grandma was always there for me as well. They all really pushed me forward when it came to basketball. When I showed I wanted to play basketball, my mom, dad and grandma were the three most supportive people.
The 2025 graduate decided to major in business economics. Moncrief has family with business backgrounds and wanted to follow in his family's footsteps.
“After the ball stops bouncing, what am I going to do? I looked around at my family, and some people are very successful who have graduated with business degrees,” Moncrief added, “My uncle has a business degree, as well as a high school coach with a business degree.”
Moncrief says he hopes to be able to combine basketball with his business degree some time in the future, but he is focused on the present.
Moncrief has been through three coaches in his time at North Central but has been able to adapt and find a role under each coach.
This persistence has allowed Moncrief to grow into his own under head coach Vince Kmiec, who is in his second season at the helm.
Entering tonight’s matchup against Loras College, Moncrief has started in all games for the Cardinals this season and is averaging 13.4 PPG with a 6-2 record.
The senior sees himself as a leader of the locker room and bonds with his teammates through religion and belief in God.
The favorite moment of Moncrief's collegiate career came this season when he hit a buzzer beater to lift the Cardinals over Whitman College, 73-72.
The play was drawn up for Moncrief as he broke it down: “We knew they were going to full-court press because they were doing it the whole game. Coach Kmiec drew up the play and said, we’re going to put the ball in the hands of the fastest guy, which is me.”
Moncrief continued, “I just had to make one move to get going downhill. Ethan [Helwig] inbounded me the ball; I made a couple of crossovers, got around the defender one-on-one, and hit a reverse layup at the buzzer.”
Moncrief shares his closing remarks: “I want to thank everybody that’s helped me get to this point today. I don’t think I would be here today without some of those teammates from my freshman year to now. I wouldn’t be here without those coaches that recruited me or the people who helped push me in playing basketball since I was three.”
Moncrief and the Cardinals return to action Thursday, Dec. 12, for a non-conference game against Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. Click HERE for the full schedule.
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Credits:
Steve Woltmann