Charlie Croff IV entered this season with high hopes after a deep playoff run last year. Through six games this season, he’s doing his part to hang another banner at Lockport High School and put his name alongside the all-time greats in the history of the school.
One year ago, Croff and his teammates made it all the way to the Section VI Class AA crossover game. If it is up to them, this year Croff will help the team’s season end with a trophy in their hands.
A year after averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds to lead Lockport to its first sectional title since 1998, Croff has taken his game to an even higher level. Through six games for the 4-2 Lions, Croff is averaging 33.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game.
“He’s obviously been very important, not only from a point total, the reliability, his dedication,” Lockport head coach Dave Gilson said. “I mean, the kid works harder than anybody else, in-season, offseason, he’s become way more vocal over the last couple of years. When he played as a freshman and a sophomore, he didn’t really have a lot of … leadership qualities but obviously he’s developed them over the years and he can back it up on the court.”
During his final campaign, Croff has increased his career points total to 1,300 points, good for third on the school’s all-time points list. He is 171 points away from Willie Haynes to become Lockport’s all-time leading scorer, needing to average 12.2 points per game over the last 14 games of the regular season.
Croff had three 30-point games during his first three seasons, but scored at least 30 in five games this season already. That includes a career-high 41 against Williamsville East in the season opener.
During his first season, Croff was more of a scorer than a complete player with only 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. However, as his career has gone on he has developed into more of a well-rounded player. As of Dec. 26, he has career averages of 18.0 points, 2.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Throughout his career, Croff has put a tremendous amount of work into his shot through consistent time and effort with his coaches, himself and his father, Charlie III, who starred for Lockport in the late-1990s and at SUNY Brockport.
“He has worked hard to complete his game,” Gilson said. “He’s spent a tremendous amount of time in the weight room (to) increase his vertical and has improved his ability to finish at the rim.”
All of Croff’s success as a Lion has led him to continue his career at the college level after having recently committed to Daemen University to play for the men’s basketball team. Croff was deciding between the Wildcats, SUNY Cortland, Brockport and St. John Fisher.
“I’d say the coaches and the environment of the team and coaches,” Croff said as to why he committed to Daemen. “I really liked the coaches and what they got going on with their program. Obviously, they got a winning program so that’s awesome as well. I feel like it’d just be the best fit for me going there playing for Daemen.”
Speaking to Daemen’s coaches, Croff said they regard him as a spot-up shooter from the wings. Heading into the Division II level, Croff wants to continue to improve his entire game to prepare for the higher level of competition.
As part of a celebrated basketball family in Lockport, Croff’s love for the sport started the moment he could walk on his own two feet. The love for the game has directly led to him playing basketball year-round where he plays Amateur Athletic Union basketball during the summer.
“I think it’s very helpful, traveling around to different states and playing all different types of competition, I think is very helpful,” Croff said.