NATCHEZ — Tommy McCoy turns his head to the stands and calmly lifts his index finger to his lips.

The opposing crowd falls silent.

They’ve been on him all game, yelling every time he touches the ball, takes a shot or makes a defensive play.

They know he is the best player on the floor, and their only hope of stopping him is to try and rattle him.

But McCoy won’t concede.

The Trinity Episcopal Day School senior is the heart of this year’s team, and head coach Zach Rogel knows that.

“Tommy is a good player,” he said. “This is his team, his senior year. He’s got to develop into a leader this year. He had a really good supporting cast last year, but he is the lone wolf in the senior class this year. That is what we are trying to develop, but his basketball skills are apparent.”

Last season, McCoy was one of the top players in the state, averaging 23.8 points per game, which ranked 10th in Mississippi.

His talent drew the eyes of big colleges, but McCoy said he knows all that is dependent upon him leading his team to wins.

“I have a couple people looking and a few offers,” McCoy said. “I’ve got people like Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Miss. It makes me feel good as a person, but all in all, they won’t offer you unless you have a good attitude and win games. You can be the best player in the game, but if you don’t win, it doesn’t count. If you can’t win games for the program, why would they recruit you?”

And for Trinity to win games this season, McCoy is going to have to play an integral part. McCoy plays nearly every minute of every game, but said he doesn’t feel too much pressure being the team’s biggest weapon.

“It’s not really that much pressure, because we have other good players that can take over the game at any time,” he said. “They just have to be ready when their number is called.”

But when it comes down to crunch time, McCoy is going to have the ball in his hands, and the green light.

“As long as it is in the game plan and he is being a team player, he does,” said Rogel of McCoy having the freedom to shoot. “He can shoot lights out, and he can drive to the basket.”

McCoy’s passion for the game is glaring when watching him play. In the ups and downs of the game, McCoy can be found encouraging his teammates, or even getting onto himself for something. McCoy said he credits that to just being an emotional guy.

“I’m just an emotional kind of person,” he said. “If I see somebody doing something good, I’m going to clap them up. If I see somebody doing something bad, I’m going to tell them and hope they correct it.”

It is the last year McCoy will suit up for Trinity, and he said he has big goals for his final season.

“I wanted to accomplish an undefeated season, but now, I just want to win some games and hopefully get to the state championship.”