Mitch McGary has experienced some enormous athletic thrills in his life.

The 24-year-old McGary, a Chesterton native, was the No. 2-ranked high school basketball player according to ESPN.com and Scout.com. He transferred to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire to finish his prep career.

A 6-foot-10 power forward, he played for Michigan and contributed heavily to the Wolverines' Final Four team that lost to Louisville in the 2013 NCAA Tournament championship game.

He was drafted 21st overall in 2014 by the Oklahoma City Thunder, getting the chance to play with former NBA MVP Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, an MVP this season. McGary averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds as a rookie.

After playing in just 20 games his second year, he was released by the Thunder before this season. McGary now is having fun in a sport that his mom, Valerie, competed in for more than 30 years.

McGary is bowling in a sanctioned league, and after getting a refresher tutorial on the sport he grew up with in junior high, he rolled his first career 700 series two weeks ago. He scored a 703 in the Thursday Any Mixed League at Inman's Bowling & Rec Center in Valparaiso.

"I love it," McGary said. "People are surprised I bowl pretty good."

He's averaging 195, which isn't too shabby for someone who hadn't bowled for years.

"A lot of us have been helping him here and there and he's been watching all of us, so he's naturally bowling better," said Shaun Ciesielski, Inman's manager who also averages better than 230.

McGary said he bowled youth leagues at now-closed Westchester Lanes in Chesterton. He bowled in the Indiana youth state tournament.

In addition to the 703, he has three other series of 650 or more. Those are scratch scores, but being an athlete who has competed on the big stage in basketball, McGary has that competitive nature.

He loves the equalizing factor in bowling.

"Handicap is cool," he said, referring to extra pins bowlers get when they average less than 220 in most leagues. "I've been bowling good against (established scratch bowlers) Derek (Carter) and Ted (Rosenquist) because of the 30 pins (handicap) I get."

Turns out he hasn't needed it against Carter, who was the coach of the Chesterton girls bowling team that finished as the state runner-up.

"He has kicked my butt scratch every time we have bowled together," Carter said.

No truth to the rumor that McGary will put basketball behind him and try to bowl professionally. He considers bowling to be a fun respite in between basketball endeavors.

"The NBA is complicated, the NBA is a business," he said. "I'm getting back in shape. I'll be back, whether it be the NBA or overseas."

Pepsi Individual Classic: The 68th annual Pepsi Individual Classic will take place at Olympia Lanes in Hammond on May 6, 7, 13, 20 and 21, with teams at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The entry fee is $45, with divisions for men, women, seniors and open for averages 210 and higher. Youth bowlers can compete for scholarship money.

First place in divisions with 160 or more entries is $1,200. For more details, call 219-933-6677, or visit www.olympialanes.com.

Johnny Gorches is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.