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Saint Anthony’s product Elijah Carter signs
NLI to join Bonnies
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ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — Third-year
St. Bonaventure men’s basketball coach Mark Schmidt announced the
signing of Elijah Carter (Patterson, N.J./Saint Anthony’s) to a
National Letter of Intent (NLI) on the final day of the early signing
period.
Carter, a 6-foot-2 combo guard from national-renown Saint Anthony’s
High School, is entering his second season under legendary head coach
Bob Hurley and will join the Bonnies during the 2010-11 season.
“We’re extremely pleased to get a player
of Elijah’s caliber and we can’t wait to get him into a St.
Bonaventure uniform,” said head coach Mark Schmidt. |
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“Elijah brings a scorers mentality to
the guard position and has the ability to shoot the ball, which we need.
The college game won’t be a huge adjustment for him because he comes from
a program and a legendary coach that prepares them for that. Players out
of that program have played in big games and know what it takes to win.
It’s great to get a player from St. Anthony’s and we’re happy to have
Elijah as part of our basketball family.”
As a junior last season, Carter helped guide Saint Anthony’s to a 25-6
record and final New Jersey Hoops ranking of sixth in the state. Carter
averaged 5.5 points over the 31-game season, but finished the season
strong by scoring in double figures six out of the last nine games.
“I think he showed flashes of potential last year,” said Hurley. Through
the spring, summer and fall he put those flashes on the floor and in his
performances. We expect him to lead us in scoring this year. St.
Bonaventure fans should be excited about Elijah because he will get
considerably better in the future.”
“Elijah can be a guard that can handle the
ball and get you into your offense, but he can also score,” said Hurley,
who has amassed 23 state championships and over 900 wins during his
career. “I think this year he’ll have some real big games for us and it’s
nice as a coach to a player that can produce on the offensive end
naturally without always needing direction.”
Carter certainly produced offensively this past summer and really started
to hit the scene playing for Team IZOD/Sports University on the AAU
circuit. He was named a Top 20 All-Star at both the Hoop Group Elite Camp
in Philadelphia and the Eastern Invitational in Reading, Pa. Carter also
found his way onto the All-Tournament team at the Hoop Group Fall Fest in
Piscataway, N.J.
Carter was named the MVP of Team IZOD/Sports University at the end
of the season and led an under-manned team to the quarterfinals of the
Is8/Nike Fall-Tip Off. Coached by Eric Harrield, Carter registered at
least a trio of big games during the summer and fall. He scored 31 points
on six three-pointers against Team New Jersey ABC at the Rumble in the
Bronx Tournament at Rose Hill Gym on the campus of Fordham University, and
had 32 points and 28 points, respectively, in back-to-back games at the
Reebok Classic in New Jersey.
Prior to going to Saint Anthony’s, Carter was enrolled at Life Center
Academy. He enters his senior season at Saint Anthony’s as they No. 23
ranked rising senior in the state according New Jersey Hoops.
St. Bonaventure (1-1) is back in action on Friday, Nov. 20, when it hosts
America East member Binghamton (1-1) at the Reilly Center. Tip-off on Bob
Lanier Court is scheduled for 7 p.m. |
