Mir McLean knew she wanted to pursue a career playing basketball when she was in the seventh grade. Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Mir recalls starting her journey in the game around the fifth grade and quickly developing a strong desire to compete at a higher level the more and more she improved on the floor. It was up from there. During her time in high school, at Roland Park Country School, Mir continued to elevate her game further and began building her legacy in the space. From being named a McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand Classic All-American to receiving the 2020 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year award, Mir earned an array of accolades throughout her time in high school. Even with these incredible accomplishments, she kept her eyes on the prize. She was determined to play the sport at the highest level. Sure enough, she did just that. Upon graduating, Mir officially embarked on her collegiate career at the University of Connecticut (UConn)—where she played for one season before transferring to the University of Virginia. Currently in her third year at Virginia, Mir continues to work towards maximizing her potential both on and off the court. Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury last year, Mir remains focused on getting healthy again and is excited to be making a return on the floor soon.
How do you think your game elevated throughout your time in high school to prepare you for the next level?
I think I focused a lot more on ball handling, guard skills, pull up jumpers, and things like that knowing that I wasn't going to be a post (player) in college. I started a little bit off like that in the beginning and then just kept getting in the gym—working hard on (areas) like my jumpers, my threes, pushing the ball in transition. I think that has helped me a lot. In high school, I felt like I was a little more limited. You know, right-hand dominant and taking over that way. When I went into college, it was (about) understanding that there's better defenders and you have to do more; so just getting in the gym every day helped a lot.
Let's talk about taking that next step and embarking on your collegiate career! You played one season at UConn before transferring to the University of Virginia. First, how was that transition from high school to college like for you and what were some of those challenges that you faced early on?
I think a lot of the challenge was that, up until college, I really depended heavily on my athleticism. Part of that still existed early on in college—you know, beating people up the floor and just using what I was God-given to have an advantage. Just learning from Coach Geno the fundamentals of basketball, the IQ of basketball, the mental aspect of the game—not just the physical—, it's helped me become a better player.
How did you work to overcome those early challenges as you progressed in your collegiate career?
Just talking to my coaches, watching film, staying in the gym, and going over plays. I took basketball like another class—learning the plays, when to backdoor, when to slip, what reads to look at. I studied the plays and watched film.
You're currently in your senior season at Virginia. Tell us a little bit more about your journey there! What has this experience been like?