Vanessa Mais
vmais@mscd.edu
5-foot-11-inches is the average height for a man, but for the Metro men’s basketball team it puts you at the bottom of the totem pole.
Marquise Carrington stands proud as the shortest player on the basketball team, but don’t let his size deceive you. As a point guard, despite his size, Carrington ranks third for offensive rebounds and fifth for total rebounds on the team. He put his size aside at a young age and became a success, even back in high school.
Carrington was a three-year letter winner at John Bartram High School in Philadelphia where he was all-State third-team and all-Public League first team, as well as Most Valuable Player of the Public League All-Star game. He might have been a star, but it was not all fun and games growing up.
John Bartram High School is located in southwest Philly and has predominantly low income families.
“I grew up in not the best or richest neighborhoods, but it made me who I am,” Carrington said.
And who he is includes being a huge part of the men’s basketball team and their success this season.
Carrington has led this year’s team to an 18-3 record with hopes of winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in his senior season. This year, he has averaged over 33 minutes per game and ranks second on the team for points, with an average of 13.9 per game. Not only can he put the ball in the basket, but he plays like a magician, ranking first on the team in assists with 70. It is not just offense with him, as he also leads his team in steals.
Being a point guard, Carrington is the conductor of the team.
“Marquise sets the tone for our whole team as a point guard,” head coach Brannon Hays said.
“He can break defenses down or get into the paint. He makes the defense work.”
Carrington played in every game his freshman year at Metro, including six starts. He’s been a starter ever since. Before becoming a star he had to put his pride aside and study how the upper classmen played.
“I had a lot to learn about the college game,” he said on his freshman year.
He was named to the RMAC first team all-Eastern Division, ranking second in the RMAC in steals and assists as a 2006 sophomore. In 2007, he was named to the Eastern Division second team all-Conference, ranking fifth in the RMAC in assists and averaging 14.3 points per game as a junior. This year, Carrington was named to the Preseason all-RMAC team and Preseason all-Eastern Division team.
Carrington has played for Metro all four years and has blossomed into an amazing basketball player.
“I have improved tremendously as a leader,” he said. “Also with my jump shot and just my knowledge of the game.”
Carrington has put up some astounding numbers while here at Metro. He averaged above a 35 percent 3-point average and above a 40 percent field goal average throughout his four seasons. His free throw percentage has never dropped below 70 percent since his freshman year. He has posted 231 rebounds, 382 assists and 163 steals in his career at Metro.
Carrington realizes this is his fourth and final year and says it feels different for him.
“Just being the old guy now and seeing situations from a different perception and teammates looking to me for answers,” he said.
The Metro men’s basketball team is 18-3 overall and 12-1 in conference play with no losses at home. With only six games remaining in the regular season it is hard as a senior to look past those six games knowing that the sixth could be your last.
Carrington said knowing these details can be very difficult.
“You just don't understand how much something means to you until it's gone, or in this case almost gone,” he said.
Looking ahead, Carrington can’t help but realize that four years have flown by and this chapter of his life is almost over. It is expected they will make it to the playoffs, but it is bittersweet since every game could be his last after the regular season concludes.
“Do or die,” Carrington said. “Just play with your heart because the season could be over, and now it’s not just the season – it’s my career that could be over.”
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