Nathan Cranford eyes fifth season in ASU program

By Natalie Saywich

Watauga Democrat Correspondent

A full basketball game lasts 40 minutes. A full collegiate athletic career lasts four years. But every now and then, some collegiate careers last a little longer. 

Such is the case with senior graduate student Nathan Cranford; a 6-foot-2 guard on the Appalachian State men’s basketball team. Cranford is in his fifth year at Appalachian, in pursuit of a master’s degree in business administration and putting the cherry atop the bachelor’s degree he received in May.

The extra year was necessary because in the 2002-2003 season, Cranford, after having played five games, was granted a medical redshirt after tearing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in one of his knees.

Fast-forward four years and Cranford is still in the black and gold and is one of the main reasons the Mountaineers will be contenders for the top spot in the Southern Conference’s North Division. 

Cranford is the oldest of five seniors who return to the Appaachian State lineup. He celebrated his 23rd birthday Nov. 1.

“It feels great to have lived this long, but I’m getting old,”  he said, insinuating the fatigue his body has felt over the course of his career.

After struggling to overcome his ACL injury his freshman year, Cranford battled back onto the court, eventually becoming a starter during the 2004-2005 season.

“It was tough; it was more tough mentally than physically,” he said. “It’s just a long rehab, but we had good trainers. Tony Barnet is one of my good friends to this day because I spent so much time with him. With rehab six days a week for six months, it was just mentally tiring.” 

Cranford’s health problems returned last season, this time in the form of a back injury. However, it didn’t stop him from starting 22 of 24 games, averaging 9.5 points per game and shooting .354 from 3-point range. Since then, Cranford has seen improvement in his condition.

“My back’s been getting better over the summer and this year so hopefully by the time the season starts I’ll be feeling pretty good,” he said. 

“I hope for him, he has an injury free season,” ASU head coach Houston Fancher said. “Last year was more back problems than it was knee problems but he’s had back problems and knee problems throughout his career.”

With age, though, comes experience, which Fancher thinks will help not only Cranford’s game, but those around him, too.

“For him, being a fifth year senior, we expect leadership from him,” said Fancher. “When he speaks, people listen. He’s not always talking, but when he says things, they’re quality, and our kids respond to him.”

With all five starters returning, expectations are high for this year’s team. 

Despite a disappointing season last year, finishing 14-16 overall, 6-8 in the conference, the Mountaineers were picked by Southern Conference coaches to finish second in the North Division behind UNC Greensboro this year.

Cranford, fellow seniors Demetrius Scott and preseason All-Southern Conference pick D.J. Thompson will be expected to lead the effort.

“Personally, I just want to be able to help the team win,” Cranford said. “Last year, we finished below .500 and that can’t happen again this year, I won’t be satisfied with that.”

Balancing a rigorous basketball schedule with the responsibilities of graduate classes is challenging, but Cranford’s drive stems from gratefulness.

“It’s more difficult than undergrad just because classes are more intense and more time consuming,” he said. “You’ve got to put a whole lot more time into it, but overall I’ve been blessed to have this opportunity to play basketball here and to get my graduate degree, so I’m thankful, so therefore I’m motivated.”

When he gets free time outside of school and basketball, Cranford enjoys hanging out with friends, playing on the computer, watching “That 70’s Show” and spending time with his girlfriend Amy Lewis, a member Appalachian State’s women’s volleyball team. 

The outlook for his last season at Appalachian promising, Cranford hopes to make the most of it.

“I’ve enjoyed every second of basketball up here,” Cranford said. “It’s going to be sad to leave, but at the same time, I think we have a chance to do something special.”