Diego’s Carter Lights Up The East Coast

Ron Bailey, Publisher

December 28, 2006 – Around 10 days ago, Horizon High School ventured cross country from San Diego, CA to participate in the Gonzaga DC Classic. Many flocked to Gonzaga’s Northwest, Washington, D.C. campus and American University’s Bender Arena to see Horizon's present junior center and future Louisville Cardinal, Jeff Withey. Everyone who saw the team play left with major respect for his teammate, Marquise Carter.

Carter, a 6’3”, 180lb senior combo guard was on fire during Classic play, dropping 25, 32, and 33 points, which helped Horizon capture the event’s third place standing and all tournament honors personally. Along the way, Marquise not only attacked the rim, but stopped and popped, fast-breaked, as well as trey-balled his foes almost at will.

Horizon's Marquise Carter (third from left), easily made the Gonzaga DC Classic all-tournament team.

One would expect a young man who can score and defend in the manner Carter can, and meets NCAA eligibility requirements to boot, would have a plethora of college scholarships to choose from. Strangely enough, he doesn’t.

Horizon’s second year head coach, Waheed Mitchell, shared Howard, Liberty, UNLV, Cal State Bernadino, and Northeastern have expressed interest, but no school has tendered a schollie offer to date. According to him, this is due to Marquise not playing AAU basketball, though it’s not as if Carter doesn’t work on his game. “Once the circuits start, he just does individuals with me” said Horizon’s coach.

Carter acknowledged this as well. “I was looking for an AAU team, but it didn’t work out” he recalled. “I guess God has another plan for me”.

That kind of patience and faith is evidenced in Marquise’s approach to basketball. “I try and wait for things to come to me” is how he described it.

Wise words for a young man. After this season at Horizon, in which Mitchell shared Carter is currently averaging “about 22 points, seven to eight assists, six rebounds, and 2 steals”, expect Marquise to major in Sociology.

Carter (left) with his teammate Withey. The two proved a dangerous tandem.

The question is… where? It’s a query that not only befuddles Mitchell – the young man’s coach his entire high school career - but everybody who has seen Marquise play.

“Whoever gets this kid is getting a steal” said Horizon’s coach. We at i95Ballerz.com concur.