Aquille Carr
Encyclopedia
Aquille Carr is an American high-school basketball player from Baltimore
, Maryland
. As of 2011, he attends Patterson Senior High School, where he plays as a point guard
. Carr has been described as one of the most explosive scorers in the United States and is a touted prospect for the 2013 college recruiting class.
, Maryland, Carr is known for his small stature, athleticism, and ball-handling abilities. The Washington Post
noted that he is "somewhat generously listed at 5 feet 7, in sneakers, including his hair." As a freshman, he led his Patterson Senior High School team to a 76–62 upset victory over No. 5 Digital Harbor
with 20 point
s, 10 assist
s, and six steal
s. For the feat, The Baltimore Sun
named him its Boys Athlete of the Week on December 23, 2009. The following week, Carr received the honor again after he scored 15 of his 38-points in the fourth quarter against defending Class 2A state champions, Baltimore City College
. Filling in as the starting point guard, he helped Patterson defeat Josh Selby
-led Lake Clifton with 39 points and 19 assists. In his freshman season, he averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 assists and 5.3 steals.
During his sophomore season, he scored 57 points against Forest Park
to win the Big Miller Christmas Classic, 103–71. In that game, he scored seven three-pointer
s, 12 two-point field goal
s, and on 12-of-15 free throw
s, and surpassed his school's single-game scoring record that had stood for 50 years. Carr led his team to a school-best 25–2 record and the Class 4A state championship
game, where they incurred their second loss. On the season, he averaged 31.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.5 steals. In his first two years at Patterson, he tallied more than 1,000 points. On April 6, 2011, ESPN
named Carr the High School Player of the Week.
He has developed a significant following in his hometown of Baltimore, and The Sun characterized him as a "must-see phenomenon". Patterson relocated from its small gymnasium to the arena on the Morgan State University
campus eight times during the season to hold the large crowds drawn to attend his games. He has received numerous nicknames, the most noted being "The Crime Stopper" for his alleged effect on the city's crime rate. His high school coach, Harry Martin said, "The crime in East Baltimore probably goes down during our games." One of his highlight videos on YouTube had received almost 500,000 views as of March 2011. That video has since received over 2.4 million views.
, Italy. He led the team to capture the gold medal and averaged 40.0 points per game. After one game in which he scored 45 points, Italian fans carried him from the court. Shortly after the tournament, the Italian professional basketball club Lottomatica Roma
reportedly offered the high school sophomore a $750,000 contract. It was the largest contract ever offered by a European club to a high school player before graduation. According to his coach, Carr plans to finish his high school career at Patterson.
or professional level
because of his diminutive stature. However, he reportedly measures a 48-inch vertical leap, has excellent ball-handling skills, which allow him to create space for his shot, and the athleticism to dunk
despite his height. CBS Sports
called him "one of the most explosive scorers in the country". Sports Illustrated
wrote, "He has explosive speed, electric ballhandling and court vision that could rival Steve Nash
's." ESPN wrote that he is "one of the quickest and [most] explosive players in the country, regardless of class," but noted his inconsistent jump shot and turnover
s were areas for improvement. The Baltimore Sun likened the criticisms to "complaining about the floor mats on a Ferrari
."
As of June 2011, ESPN gave Carr a grade of 92 ("Player has the potential to significantly contribute to a high-major program over four years") and ranked him the No. 9 point guard and No. 50 overall player in the 2013 college recruiting class. Rivals.com
ranked him the No. 53 overall player in his class. Carr plays with the Under Armour
-sponsored Baltimore Elite Amateur Athletic Union
team. Carr reported that he had received about 28 scholarship
offers before the end of his sophomore year.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. As of 2011, he attends Patterson Senior High School, where he plays as a point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
. Carr has been described as one of the most explosive scorers in the United States and is a touted prospect for the 2013 college recruiting class.
High school career
A native of BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland, Carr is known for his small stature, athleticism, and ball-handling abilities. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
noted that he is "somewhat generously listed at 5 feet 7, in sneakers, including his hair." As a freshman, he led his Patterson Senior High School team to a 76–62 upset victory over No. 5 Digital Harbor
Digital Harbor High School
Digital Harbor High School, formerly Southern High School, is a public, magnet high school located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is currently the only public information technology high school in Baltimore.-History:...
with 20 point
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
s, 10 assist
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
s, and six steal
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
s. For the feat, The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
named him its Boys Athlete of the Week on December 23, 2009. The following week, Carr received the honor again after he scored 15 of his 38-points in the fourth quarter against defending Class 2A state champions, Baltimore City College
Baltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
. Filling in as the starting point guard, he helped Patterson defeat Josh Selby
Josh Selby
Josh Selby is an American professional basketball player with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. He played one year of college basketball for the University of Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team. Selby had declared his intention to enter the 2011 NBA Draft...
-led Lake Clifton with 39 points and 19 assists. In his freshman season, he averaged 25.5 points, 8.0 assists and 5.3 steals.
During his sophomore season, he scored 57 points against Forest Park
Forest Park High School (Maryland)
Forest Park Senior High School is a four year, public high school in Baltimore, Maryland. Forest Park was established in 1924 as the Forest Park Junior-Senior High School. In 1932, the Forest Park Junior High School was moved and renamed the Garrison Junior High School.-Notable alumni: *Billy...
to win the Big Miller Christmas Classic, 103–71. In that game, he scored seven three-pointer
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
s, 12 two-point field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
s, and on 12-of-15 free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
s, and surpassed his school's single-game scoring record that had stood for 50 years. Carr led his team to a school-best 25–2 record and the Class 4A state championship
Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association
Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Associationor , is the association that oversees public high school sporting contests in the state of Maryland. Organized in 1946, MPSSAA is made up of public high schools from each of Maryland's 23 counties and Baltimore City...
game, where they incurred their second loss. On the season, he averaged 31.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.5 steals. In his first two years at Patterson, he tallied more than 1,000 points. On April 6, 2011, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
named Carr the High School Player of the Week.
He has developed a significant following in his hometown of Baltimore, and The Sun characterized him as a "must-see phenomenon". Patterson relocated from its small gymnasium to the arena on the Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
campus eight times during the season to hold the large crowds drawn to attend his games. He has received numerous nicknames, the most noted being "The Crime Stopper" for his alleged effect on the city's crime rate. His high school coach, Harry Martin said, "The crime in East Baltimore probably goes down during our games." One of his highlight videos on YouTube had received almost 500,000 views as of March 2011. That video has since received over 2.4 million views.
Italian contract offer
In April 2011, Carr played on the U.S. junior team in the Junior International Tournament in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Italy. He led the team to capture the gold medal and averaged 40.0 points per game. After one game in which he scored 45 points, Italian fans carried him from the court. Shortly after the tournament, the Italian professional basketball club Lottomatica Roma
Pallacanestro Virtus Roma
Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, also known for sponsorship reasons as Acea Virtus Roma, is a prominent Italian League professional basketball club, and is also currently one of 13 European clubs that hold ULEB A Licenses, which provide their holders with a guaranteed place in the Euroleague. The club...
reportedly offered the high school sophomore a $750,000 contract. It was the largest contract ever offered by a European club to a high school player before graduation. According to his coach, Carr plans to finish his high school career at Patterson.
Playing style
Some analysts questioned if his game will translate to the collegiateCollege basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
or professional level
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
because of his diminutive stature. However, he reportedly measures a 48-inch vertical leap, has excellent ball-handling skills, which allow him to create space for his shot, and the athleticism to dunk
Slam dunk
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
despite his height. CBS Sports
CBS Sports
CBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
called him "one of the most explosive scorers in the country". Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
wrote, "He has explosive speed, electric ballhandling and court vision that could rival Steve Nash
Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...
's." ESPN wrote that he is "one of the quickest and [most] explosive players in the country, regardless of class," but noted his inconsistent jump shot and turnover
Turnover (basketball)
In basketball, a turnover occurs when a player from one team gives possession to a member of the opposing team by losing the ball. This can result from the ball being stolen, the player making mistakes such as stepping out or throwing the ball out of bounds, or committing a violation or committing...
s were areas for improvement. The Baltimore Sun likened the criticisms to "complaining about the floor mats on a Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
."
As of June 2011, ESPN gave Carr a grade of 92 ("Player has the potential to significantly contribute to a high-major program over four years") and ranked him the No. 9 point guard and No. 50 overall player in the 2013 college recruiting class. Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
ranked him the No. 53 overall player in his class. Carr plays with the Under Armour
Under Armour
Under Armour is an American sports clothing and accessories company. The company is a supplier of a wide range of sportswear and casual apparel mainly focusing on hi-tech sportswear for professional athletes...
-sponsored Baltimore Elite Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
team. Carr reported that he had received about 28 scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
offers before the end of his sophomore year.