Barnes' Bark: Mark Karcher - Settling Issues Before Writing Another Chapter

Barry Barnes, Chief B'More Correspondent and Editorialist

[The views expressed here by Barnes are his and may or may not be the same as others at i95Ballez.com]

October 23, 2008 – Mark Karcher was the best player in Baltimore during his high school years. That’s undisputed. This upcoming basketball season, Karcher will walk on St. Frances’ court as a head coach and hopefully, without a dark cloud.

Leading the St. Frances Panthers to three consecutive Catholic League Championships, ’95 – ’97, and being named tournament MVP each year, Karcher was also named player of the year in Baltimore, from ’96 – ’97, while in ’98, his senior campaign, averaging 28.7 points a game.

Mark Karcher in 2007 during a celebrity event in DC. Karcher won MVP, showing he could still get it done.

Attending Temple University and playing under legendary head coach, John Chaney, Karcher led his team in scoring each year he played, earning honors for the A-10 all-rookie team his freshman year and first team all Atlantic 10 in his final year as a junior.

Karcher made himself eligible for the NBA Draft in 2000 and was selected 48th overall (second round) by the Philadelphia 76ers. He didn’t make that roster, but was selected 59th overall (eighth round) in the 2001 NBDL (NBA Development league) by the Greenville Groove. Mark eventually, played for the Richmond Rhythm in the IBL (International Basketball League) in 2000- 01, leading the team in points, 6.6, and rebounding, 3.6, in 38 games.

Karcher (29) averaged about 16 points for his professional career, mainly in France. Despite having the ability to continue playing basketball, the opportunity to replace a great coach like William Wells at St. Frances, was hard not to accept.

“I was in a good situation overseas, but I could not pass up on the offer to coach here (St. Frances, a 180 year old institution),” he said. Karcher was raised by his grandparents, but views Coach Wells as more than a coach. “I’m blessed to be around him all these years,” said Karcher. “A lot of us call him ‘Coach’. I call him, father.”

On October 7th, Mark was arrested after being served with two outstanding warrants, according to court records and school officials, with the charges stemming from incidents on November 23, 2006 (second-degree assault) and May 31st (second-degree assault with third and fourth-degree burglary). The third-degree burglary charge is a felony and the other charges are misdemeanors.

The question is – why did the justice system take so long to arrest Karcher? Did the system, intentionally, plan to pursue Karcher right before his head-coaching debut for St. Frances to embarrass him? That’s unknown, but because of Baltimore’s crime rate, it is safe to assume that the system could be backed up in paperwork. Police and court officials could not provide details nor could say why it took as long as it did to serve the warrants to a high profile person such as Karcher.

In attempt to bring closure to these charges, Karcher’s trial dates are October 27th and 30th, right before the Panthers’ season start on November 20th against St. Paul, so the team and school would not face distractions. “We think it will all be cleared up,” said Sister John Francis Schilling, St. Frances’ president. “It’s just an unfortunate thing. It’s too bad when you’re a high-profile person everything becomes public, but that’s part of being successful.”

Karcher’s knowledge for the game of basketball is great and he’s focused on making St. Frances a national powerhouse and providing for his family. “To be home with my family is very important to me,” said Karcher. “I’m looking forward to taking St. Frances to another level.”