Throughout the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, shouts and screams can be heard. They are the kind of screams that are hungry, searching for something in which to believe. After a four-game losing streak for the IUPUI men's basketball team, they were ready for something to give.
 
As the giant numbers on the scoreboard ticked closer and closer to tip, the players emerged from the locker room to be greeted by their fans. Among the cheers, a few fans have started up a chant: 'D.J., D.J., D.J.'
 
Senior guard D.J. McCall has always been a part of basketball, or basketball has always been a part of him. Either way you slice it, McCall has loved the game for as long as he can remember. Ever since he could walk, McCall says, he was attending Indiana Tech games to watch both his aunt and uncle play. He loved every second of it, itching to one day have his shot on the court.
 
"In the beginning, I was a fan, and now I'm a player and still a huge fan," said McCall.
 
Throughout his early basketball career, McCall knew that he needed to work hard if he was to pursue his dreams in college. As a freshman in high school, the Fort Wayne-native admits his academics took a backseat and his confidence suffered. But as a true testament to his work ethic, McCall decided to start working even harder.
 
When he first stepped foot onto IUPUI's campus, his grades were there but his confidence was still lacking.
 
"D.J. has always been talented since the day he stepped onto campus, but lacked confidence at the beginning," said Marcellus Barksdale, his former IUPUI teammate. "It took him a while to put it all together."
 
McCall was redshirted as a sophomore. It was something that almost broke his spirit, and he questioned whether or not he wanted to continue. The drive, though, was unmistakable. This was something he knew he wanted, something that had been with him since he could remember.

And so, he worked harder. And harder. Until he became an undeniable force on the team.
 
"You see that from freshman year, (he) probably didn't make any threes all the way up to now where he is knocking down threes," head coach Jason Gardner said. "He is more confident…he is stronger, he wants it."
 
 As McCall learned more about himself as both a student and player, that confidence began to shine. Now, as a senior, he has become a prominent leader.
 
"Leadership on a vocal standpoint is something I have always struggled with, even in high school, so first I feel like I try to bring the energy on the court and lead by example on both ends," said McCall. "Being a leader by example as well as verbally is what I try to do best."
 
On the court, McCall is the kind of teammate you want by your side. The energy is unmatched, the focus and intensity pushing him forward every game. When a teammate is upset or frustrated, count on seeing McCall right there to pump him up.
 
"He is an example guy," said Barksdale. "So, he is not the most vocal, but he is the guy when you are around him, you know he is always going to give 110 percent; he is not going to be late, he is always going to take care of what he needs to take care of.
 
"The expectation he has of himself, when you are around him, it is very clear and apparent. Just by being around him, you have to elevate your expectation of yourself."
 
That expectation carries over into his academics. Finishing his undergraduate career in three years, McCall is on the brink of completing his master's degree in applied data science. He says that someday he hopes to become a database administrator, after playing in either Australia or Europe. But for now, he will continue to focus on his work under the basketball arena lights.
 
"Right now, I'm just trying to put everything I can into basketball, and it's a good thing, because I know I can fall back on my degrees and the database administration/technology route," said McCall.
 
With the regular season quickly drawing to an end, McCall is focused on his last chance to make the Tournament. Though he says he does not like to get caught up in numbers, he knows that his aggression on the court will be the key to helping his team in this crucial part of the season.
 
"I'm just really hoping that this spring brings us into a good run, not only through our conference season, but into our conference tournament and hopefully the NCAA Tournament," said McCall.
 
So, with the last month of his senior season staring him in the face, McCall goes forward with his head held high, a true leader of the Jaguars.
 
"Knowing D.J., I know he is going to be so successful," said Gardner. "He is a relentless worker, he has a great head on his shoulder, great family, so I think he is going to do something big."