DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Hawaii junior guard Jason Carter has seen his share of controversy in his life, but hopes to put that behind him as he tries to adjust to Division I competition in Hawaii.
‘J.C.’ ready to step up Somewhere between Gary, Ind., and Honolulu lies the truth.
to higher level
The highly sought-after player
from Indiana has taken a l
ong route to get to HawaiiBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comIt all depends on who's telling the story.
Hawaii junior guard Jason "J.C." Carter is comfortable with his version of what turned into a soap opera, and the facts of why he didn't play basketball for one year in high school.
Considered one of the best point guards in the state of Indiana at the time, he dropped out of Horace Mann High in the middle of his sophomore season to care for his father, Howard, who is wheelchair-bound and suffering from multiple sclerosis.
What happened afterward was the subject of much debate, from Indiana newspapers to Internet message boards. Of how the Indiana High School Athletic Association granted Carter an unprecedented fifth year of eligibility, a year that was taken away a week later when his uncle and grandmother said that Carter "lied" about being his father's sole provider after his mother and three siblings moved to other cities.
"What story did you read?" the 22-year-old Carter asked after practice earlier this week at the Stan Sheriff Center. "I can tell you that I am a trustworthy person and my word is my bond. I've had a rough, rough past. There is baggage.
"What's true is I took off to help my dad and he really has MS. They (the IHSAA) gave me the fifth year, then my uncle called them and lied. I guess he didn't like the story."
What's important to Carter is that he's at Hawaii and ready to contribute. It's been a circuitous route to get here, one that included:
>> Getting his GED after leaving school following the eligibility issue;"My friends may be surprised that I'm here, but I'm surprised the most," Carter said. "It's a nice place. It's a big adjustment, but it's getting better every day and I'm getting more comfortable.>> Eye-raising AAU performances -- he once scored 30 points in the second half of a summer league game;
>> Heavy recruiting by schools such as Purdue, Cincinnati, South Carolina and Fresno State;
>> A successful two-year stay at Barton County (Kan.) Community College, where he was a standout player and earned his associate's degree, allowing him to play Division I ball.
"When I was young, I used to say I wanted to live in a place where I could wear shorts every day. Not basketball shorts. Shorts, period."
The weather wasn't the only attraction for Carter, who was slowed this week by a possible pinched nerve in his lower back. A good basketball program, solid teammates and a chance to help the Rainbows get beyond the NCAA Tournament first round were part of an alluring package.
As enamored as Carter is with his new surroundings, it's matched by the feelings of his coaches and teammates. Those who saw his second-place performance in the Midnight Ohana slam-dunk contest last month know that the 5-foot-10 Carter was just warming up his 40-inch vertical.
"He's going to bring so much quickness to our team," said Carter's roommate, sophomore Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan. "His game will bring the crowd into it. I'm sure Hawaii is ready for a player like this.
"J.C. just wants to play. He's not trying to take over a position. He wants to come in and do the job."
Carter is used to getting the job done. Last season, he helped Barton to a 22-10 record, leading the Cougars in scoring (16.4 ppg), 3-pointers (52, .335), and steals (76). He was second in assists (77) and rebounds (4.9).
Head coach Riley Wallace is expecting more of the same once Carter makes the adjustment to Division I. Currently, the Rainbows are using a two-guard offense, but Wallace expects to move to a three-guard lineup eventually.
"One of the reasons we recruited him was for his quickness, he can really pick up the tempo," said Wallace. "He has speed, a good knowledge of the game and he plays bigger than he is.
"So far, he's been perfect. I was concerned with some of the 'baggage' we had heard about and I didn't know what to expect. He's fit right in, he's holding his own in practice and there's nothing negative about him. We knew about his problems in the past but all I care about is now."
That's all Carter has wanted. A chance for a new start and a chance to move his game to the next level.
"It's hard now because I'm coming off the bench and I've always been a starter," said Carter. "I'll try to earn a starting position, but that's up to Coach Wallace.
"All I've ever wanted was to get the opportunity to play. From Indiana to Kansas to Hawaii, it just keeps getting better. I've already told my family I'm not coming back this summer. This is the life I was supposed to live."
His father is now with relatives in Georgia, leaving just one person he needs to be responsible for.
And just one person to be true to ... himself.
Notes: The Rainbows received 10 points in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Top 25 poll, well out of top-25 contention. Arizona is ranked first with 770 points and 27 first-place votes. Xavier, which beat UH in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last spring, is No. 11. Illinois is at No. 25 with 83 points. Tulsa received the most votes for a WAC team, with 67. ... The 18th Tip-Off Banquet is scheduled for Nov. 14 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a no-host cocktail reception, followed by a buffet dinner at 7 p.m. There is no cost for Coach- and Captain-level boosters. Tickets are $50 for Team-level boosters and the general public. The deadline is noon, Nov. 8. For reservations, call 956-6501. ... The Rainbows open the season Nov. 17 with an exhibition game against EA Sports All-Stars. The regular season begins with the Hawaii Tip-Off Tournament, Nov. 22 and 24, featuring Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Cal State Fullerton and Arkansas-Little Rock.
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