Post by FriendsofAN44 on Jun 4, 2005 5:51:12 GMT -5
Playing days over for Bonnie’s Carter
By Vinny Pezzimenti 06/04/2005
I can hear it now. Casual observers abound sighing under their breath, “Yet another Anthony Solomon recruit who didn’t pan out. No wonder they only won two games last season.”<br>True, when we look back at the two seasons Kern Carter spent at St. Bonaventure, we’ll rightfully call his career a bust or another one of Solomon’s guys — Andy Smith, Chuck Burch, Mario Boggan, Willie Morse, Brian Gibbs, Yankuba Camara — who never made a lasting impression on the program.
On Thursday it was announced a chronic groin injury has ended the basketball career of the 21-year old. Carter’s scholarship will be honored by Bona and he’ll remain at the school.
The guard’s numbers at Bona read like a report card lined with F’s. Carter’s statistics were 3.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 19.1 minutes per game as a freshman followed by 2.2, 0.8 and 11.3 this past season, which turned out to be the last for the Toronto native as a Bonnie.
Yet, Carter never was going to be a star. Even coach Anthony Solomon understood that when the ink dried on the National Letter of Intent in the summer of 2003.
In truth, Carter, who played for the renowned AAU team Grassroots Canada, was grateful just for the chance to play at the Division I level, even if the Bonnies were set to face NCAA probation as a result of the Jamil-Terrell eligibility scandal. Few college coaches were calling after a groin injury kept Carter off the court all together during his final year at Father Henry Carr High School.
Carter was supposed to be the hard-working, overachiever-type willing to suffer through humble seasons. He was supposed to be one of the sacrificial lambs in the Bonnies’ rebuilding pursuit. He was just that and would have continued to be if the groin allowed.
As a freshman, Carter showed flashes. He played in all 28 games, started 10 and proved to be a role player who could earn minutes for a winning team.
When at 100 percent the athletic, lengthy Carter could smother a smaller, faster point guard and bigger, bulkier off guard with his aggressive defense and break down defenses with his quick first step. At barely 6-foot-2, Carter made dunking the basketball look easy.
As Carter’s groin injury progressed during his sophomore season, his minutes digressed. Long hours in the training room didn’t prevent Carter from practicing or suiting up for games, however.
In his lone start of the season at Massachusetts in February, Carter registered a team-high 11 points and career-high four steals.
Following the contest Solomon couldn’t help but compliment his tough guard.
“My hat’s off to that young man because I see what it takes for him to get going on a daily basis,” Solomon said.
Carter, meanwhile, was realistic about his future at Bona.
“(The groin) is always going to be like that as long as I’m here,” he said. “That’s really not going to be an issue.”<br>In place of Carter, Bona was provided another scholarship to hand out by the NCAA. Andre Smith, a 6-8 forward signed on to become a Bonnie Thursday.
The Carter-Smith trade straight up would be a no-brainer for any coach. Smith is healthy, big and a fantastic rebounder. The transfer from North Dakota State College of Science gives the Bonnies all the things they’ve been lacking and more.
That doesn’t mean Carter won’t be missed, however. On countless occasions, Solomon mentioned Carter as an emerging leader and an example to be followed by a youthful, growing team.
Even more, Carter was undeniably appreciative for the opportunity to play at Bona, despite the chronic losing and painful groin.
“It’s a lot of people’s dreams to go out there,” he said one time this past season. “A lot of people aren’t fortunate to be where we’re at right now. It’s always a dream, so any time you’re given the opportunity to play, especially me, I’m going to play hard.”<br>A recruit that didn’t work out? Perhaps. A class act? An unquestionable yes.
(Vinny Pezzimenti is a sports writer for The Times Herald.)
By Vinny Pezzimenti 06/04/2005
I can hear it now. Casual observers abound sighing under their breath, “Yet another Anthony Solomon recruit who didn’t pan out. No wonder they only won two games last season.”<br>True, when we look back at the two seasons Kern Carter spent at St. Bonaventure, we’ll rightfully call his career a bust or another one of Solomon’s guys — Andy Smith, Chuck Burch, Mario Boggan, Willie Morse, Brian Gibbs, Yankuba Camara — who never made a lasting impression on the program.
On Thursday it was announced a chronic groin injury has ended the basketball career of the 21-year old. Carter’s scholarship will be honored by Bona and he’ll remain at the school.
The guard’s numbers at Bona read like a report card lined with F’s. Carter’s statistics were 3.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 19.1 minutes per game as a freshman followed by 2.2, 0.8 and 11.3 this past season, which turned out to be the last for the Toronto native as a Bonnie.
Yet, Carter never was going to be a star. Even coach Anthony Solomon understood that when the ink dried on the National Letter of Intent in the summer of 2003.
In truth, Carter, who played for the renowned AAU team Grassroots Canada, was grateful just for the chance to play at the Division I level, even if the Bonnies were set to face NCAA probation as a result of the Jamil-Terrell eligibility scandal. Few college coaches were calling after a groin injury kept Carter off the court all together during his final year at Father Henry Carr High School.
Carter was supposed to be the hard-working, overachiever-type willing to suffer through humble seasons. He was supposed to be one of the sacrificial lambs in the Bonnies’ rebuilding pursuit. He was just that and would have continued to be if the groin allowed.
As a freshman, Carter showed flashes. He played in all 28 games, started 10 and proved to be a role player who could earn minutes for a winning team.
When at 100 percent the athletic, lengthy Carter could smother a smaller, faster point guard and bigger, bulkier off guard with his aggressive defense and break down defenses with his quick first step. At barely 6-foot-2, Carter made dunking the basketball look easy.
As Carter’s groin injury progressed during his sophomore season, his minutes digressed. Long hours in the training room didn’t prevent Carter from practicing or suiting up for games, however.
In his lone start of the season at Massachusetts in February, Carter registered a team-high 11 points and career-high four steals.
Following the contest Solomon couldn’t help but compliment his tough guard.
“My hat’s off to that young man because I see what it takes for him to get going on a daily basis,” Solomon said.
Carter, meanwhile, was realistic about his future at Bona.
“(The groin) is always going to be like that as long as I’m here,” he said. “That’s really not going to be an issue.”<br>In place of Carter, Bona was provided another scholarship to hand out by the NCAA. Andre Smith, a 6-8 forward signed on to become a Bonnie Thursday.
The Carter-Smith trade straight up would be a no-brainer for any coach. Smith is healthy, big and a fantastic rebounder. The transfer from North Dakota State College of Science gives the Bonnies all the things they’ve been lacking and more.
That doesn’t mean Carter won’t be missed, however. On countless occasions, Solomon mentioned Carter as an emerging leader and an example to be followed by a youthful, growing team.
Even more, Carter was undeniably appreciative for the opportunity to play at Bona, despite the chronic losing and painful groin.
“It’s a lot of people’s dreams to go out there,” he said one time this past season. “A lot of people aren’t fortunate to be where we’re at right now. It’s always a dream, so any time you’re given the opportunity to play, especially me, I’m going to play hard.”<br>A recruit that didn’t work out? Perhaps. A class act? An unquestionable yes.
(Vinny Pezzimenti is a sports writer for The Times Herald.)
