If the time has come for Aquille Carr to leave amateur basketball forever, let the record show that he did so in perfectly appropriate fashion.
In what can only be described as a show-stopping performance, the teen nicknamed "The Crimestopper" scored 52 points in his final high school game for Laurel (Md.) Princeton Day School in a 121-82 victory against New Jersey’s Each One Teach One Academy. The performance from the mighty-mite guard was as comprehensive as any he has put together during his senior season and was capped with Carr officially announcing that he plans to play professionally in Europe rather than attend Seton Hall, for whom he had signed.
“I got a responsibility, taking care of my daughter, so that’s why I picked to take the route overseas,” Carr told the Washington Post, which attended the game along with other media outlets. “I’m ready to make basketball my career and be responsible for my family.”
Carr may be moving to Europe, at long last, but not before he put on a final show for his fans in the Baltimore area. En route to his 52-point total, Carr did everything but work the concession stand. He sliced to the hoop for layups. He hit outside jumpers. He broke free in loose ball situations. He dished out a healthy share of assists.
And, as has always been the case, he broke a couple of ankles along the way.
By game’s end, Carr had the second most points he’d ever accumulated in a single game, behind a 57-point performance while he was still competing for Baltimore (Md.) Patterson High. Yet it was the ease with which Carr scored them, and led his team, that made his coach say afterwards that the heralded, Iverson-esque guard was ready to make the professional leap.
“I think this year has really prepared Aquille for the next step, bringing some needed discipline and structure to his game while playing the toughest schedule that he’s played with a talented collection of teammates,” Princeton Day coach Van Whitfield told the Post. Whitfield added that he had been in contact with teams in both Germany and Italy, as well as apparel manufacturers who might sponsor Carr.
Under Armour was a sponsor of Carr’s teams at Patterson and has long been seen as a likely suitor for his professional endorsement if he went directly to the pros.
For his part, Carr appears to know that the transition abroad won’t be easy, but he appears committed to making it work.
"They tell me to keep my head, go over there disciplined and listen,” Carr said. “I’m a student of the game, so I’m going to learn and grow.”
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