Mikhail McLean rises to slam home a dunk against Concordia. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

With the Cougars entering their first season in the American Athletic Conference, they have worked all summer to improve on their 20-game win total last season.

Off the court, redshirt junior forward Mikhail McLean has worked just as hard — after only three years at UH, he plans to graduate this summer. He said balancing school and athletics has helped him personally.

“It teaches me to be disciplined. You have to focus, on top of that, you have to get your school work done; you’ve got to get a good workout in; and you’ve got to eat well,” McLean said.

“Every day is basketball.”

McLean works out at least four times a day, which forces him to avoid procrastination in doing his schoolwork, but on top of his college responsibilities, he doesn’t forget his commitment to the community.

This winter, McLean won the Conference USA Spirit of Service Winter Award for his community contribution.

McLean is in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a committee of students from different teams that meet with Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades to plan service events with the community as well as fan outreach programs.

“We discuss things that can change in the Athletic Department, things that can help the players and help bring more fans out,” McLean said.

“At one point in the Texas game we were losing, and they made a run and came back. And the fans just brought us up, they never sat down, they stood up the whole time. But it’s our job to get them out there.”

McLean said the plan to get fans to Hofheinz Pavilion is simple.

“Win games, make statements.”

McLean averaged only 2.2 points per game last year, but his defense, leadership experience, intelligence and knowledge of the fundamentals keeps him on the court. He served as a part-time starter last season.

“Everybody looks up to him. I guess you can say that he is the big brother of the team,” said junior TaShawn Thomas, the Cougars’ leading returning scorer and rebounder.

McLean has worked on his ball handling, free-throw shooting and his defense this summer and wants to show people how well his perimeter game and post defense have improved.

Head coach James Dickey has seen McLean grow since he has been with the program and said he expects McLean to bring exceptional leadership.

“He is going into his fourth year here; he is going (to) graduate in August; he’s a team player; and he understands what we are trying to do on and off the court,” Dickey said. “He provides great leadership, and we are going to depend on him to bring it every day.”

Correction: An earlier version of the article said McLean was a member of the Student Administrative Conference. The correct name is the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

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