Rob Mcclain Jr. is a 6’5 junior transfer from United Tribes Technical College in Bismark, North Dakota. Mcclain is originally from Red Lake, Minnesota, a Native American reservation. Yet, despite being over 1700 miles away from home, Mcclain always finds a way to represent his hometown and his culture as well.
That’s the one thing that I let everyone know, is that you know, I’m Native American from the Red Lake reservation. I represent everybody there, I just don’t represent my tribe, I represent all tribes, because you know there are not a lot of native athletes out there, and not a lot of us make it to division one.
For Mcclain, playing at UTRGV is already a huge accomplishment in representing his hometown at the division one level. However, Mcclain, like his idol pro football hall of famer Jim Thorpe, wants to be a role model and inspire other Native American athletes to chase their dreams.
I’m the first male athlete from my hometown to make a division I. For me its just, trying to represent Red Lake the best that I can and represent all native people. For me my motivation growing up was Jim Thorpe, and that was 1912, you know, 1920 era, so its been a while since you had genuine Native Athletes to look up too and I want to become that next Jim Thorpe, that next role model.
In his first season with UTRGV Mcclain is averaging 3 point and 3 rebounds per game but has already taken a liking to the city of Edinburg and the greater Rio Grande Valley.
I just like the environment, this is a big place but it doesn’t feel that big to me, so it doesn’t make me feel like, you know, like I stand out. It also makes me feel connected to what is happening around here, getting to know more people, different people it’s a great experience for me.
Mcclain and UTRGV Men’s Basketball will be back in action at the UTRGV field-house Saturday, January 25th, at 7:00 pm as they will face the 14 and 6, Aggies of New Mexico State.
Reporter Luis Rubio
