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English focusing on WAC | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Wednesday, March 12, 2003

English focusing on WAC

• Western Athletic Conference Tournaments

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

UH junior Carl English says while he is "leaning to" declaring for the NBA draft, there are factors that could change that and for now, "my focus is on this team winning the WAC Tournament."

Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

TULSA, Okla. — It would only be fair to allow Carl English to live out his dreams.

He has already experienced the nightmares.

This week, he is dreaming of winning another Western Athletic Conference Tournament championship, and taking his picture-perfect jump shot to the NBA.

In a city where his legend burst on to the college basketball scene two years ago, English is hoping to once again prove his worth as the gunslinging shooting star for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

"The goal for this team in the beginning of the year was to get back to the NCAA Tournament and win a game there," English said. "It's been an up-and-down year, but that goal is still out there."

The No. 5 seed Rainbow Warriors (17-10 overall, 9-9 WAC) will play a quarterfinal game against No. 4 Rice (19-9, 11-7) tomorrow. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (Hawai'i time) at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

The 'Bows need to win three games in as many days to become the first team in the 20-year history of the WAC Tournament to earn the championship in three consecutive seasons.

English, a 6-foot-5 junior guard, would like nothing better than to close his career with another appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Whether that happens this season or next is up to him — or the NBA team that may or may not draft him this June.

English told The Advertiser last night that he has a plan in place to declare for early entry into the NBA Draft, but without signing with an agent.

"There are still some factors out there that could change things," he said. "I'm not saying I'm declaring right now, but that's what I'm leaning to."

If English declares for early entry without signing with an agent, it allows him the option of returning to UH for his senior season if it appears he might not get drafted.

UH head coach Riley Wallace said: "If he's a guaranteed first-round pick, then sure, he needs to go and everybody needs to be happy for him. But if there is not that guarantee, then he's better off staying (at UH) and going out on top."

English, one of the most decorated and popular players in UH basketball history, is on pace to become the top scorer in school history by the end of his senior season. What's more, he is one of four junior starters on this season's team.

As Wallace is quick to point out: "Next year is supposed to be the payoff year."

Master's not in plan

English, however, is as efficient in the classroom as he is on the basketball court. He is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in liberal studies. He will have fulfilled all the requirements for graduation in four years (he redshirted in 1999-2000 because of an ankle injury).

If he is to return to UH next season, he would have to enroll in graduate courses, and he said he does not want to pursue a master's degree.

"It's about time management," said English, who was a third-team Academic All-America selection this season. "I'm the kind of guy, when I put my mind to something, I do it."

In essence, that last statement is the story of English.

It is a story that has become the stuff of legend in his hometown of Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland, Canada. If you know English, you know the story.

It is prideful — the self-constructed roadside hoop where he learned to play basketball in freezing temperatures; the local tavern where all the 40 or so residents of Patrick's Cove gather to watch English and the UH basketball team. And painful — the fire that killed his parents; the heart attack that killed his uncle, who had become one of his guardians.

It is also a story that has been told to a national audience — his life has been detailed in Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine, and CBS Sports.

"To be honest with you, I'm sick of having to tell it over and over," English said. "It's good publicity for me and the university, but it's all about how Carl English has overcome so much tragedy in his life. I'd like people to start saying Carl English is a great basketball player.

"I know that's my past and that's what builds my character, but I also feel like I have a future."

Frustrating start

That future almost never materialized at Hawai'i.

During his freshman season — the year after recovering from the ankle injury — English spent most of the year with the scout team in practice. Although he dominated the starters at times, his game minutes were minimal.

It didn't help that his roommate and fellow Canadian, Phil Martin, had become a starter as a freshman that season.

"I'm not a quitter, but I seriously thought about (transferring) after that season," he said. "It was the first time in my life that I was sitting on the bench like that. I saw Phil out there doing good, and felt like we both should have been starting."

Only through circumstance did he get his chance. The starting point guard at the time, David Hilton, got injured; his backup, Ricky Terrell, was suspended. Mike McIntyre was moved to point guard, and English became his top backup.

"Carl's position when he first got here was point guard, but he didn't have the right mentality to play point guard," Wallace said. "And we had (Predrag Savovic and Nerijus Puida) at the other positions. He had to wait his turn, that's what it was."

He made the most of it. During the 2001 WAC Tournament — also at Tulsa — English was named the most valuable player after recording 44 points and 15 rebounds in three games as a reserve.

Last season, he was a starter from the first day of training camp. He has started all 50 games since.

"I never doubted myself," he said. "When it comes to basketball, I don't like to back down."

It's been that way since he can remember.

The fourth of five brothers, English was not afraid to challenge his older siblings on that roadside hoop.

"We all played, but Carl was the one who took it the most serious," said oldest brother Peter, seven years older than Carl, 22. "He got too good for us after a while. When he was in ninth grade, he could dunk. In the 10th grade, he was scoring 40, 50 points a game."

It's a given that every resident of Patrick's Cove knows Carl English. Peter said it has now gone beyond that.

"You go to the city, St. John's, and people there know Carl," Peter said. "There's maybe 400,000 people there. I worked on a construction site once and somebody saw my name and asked if I was related to the English who plays basketball in Hawai'i. It's amazing."

So amazing that Wallace went to see for himself last summer. He and his wife, Joan, visited Newfoundland with Carl playing tour guide.

"Once you see the place and meet his family and friends, you understand why he is the way he is," Wallace said. "He's a special person because of where he comes from and what he went through. Everything he says and everything he does, is genuine."

And when in Newfoundland, English does almost everything. He can fish and hunt, more out of necessity than pleasure. He can also hold his own as a mechanic and carpenter.

"In Newfoundland, you have to live off the land," he said. "If it means hunting or fishing for your dinner, you do it. If there's something you need fixed, you do it."

English admits there are aspects of his basketball game that need fixing — dribbling and strength being the most prominent.

That, however, would be nitpicking.

English is as productive a long-range shooter as there ever has been at UH. His 75 3-pointers this season are 11 short of the single-season record (set by Trevor Ruffin in 1993-94). The 148 3-pointers in his career are 30 shy of the record established by Savovic last season.

"Carl really had to step up and carry us on the offensive end at times this year," Wallace said. "He's probably the only one on this team that can step up and do that at any given time."

But just like in Newfoundland, English does so much more.

He ranks second on the team this season with 5.6 rebounds per game, and third with 3.5 assists per game.

He was rewarded this week with a spot on the All-WAC first team. Only 10 other UH players have earned that distinction.

If he returns for his senior season, English would likely become the only player in UH history to rank among the program's all-time top 10 in scoring, rebounding and assists.

"He's very skilled, but there's been others with maybe more skills," Martin said. "But I don't know if I've ever met any person with more drive than Carl. He's the most focused and driven player I've ever seen."

The possibility of early entry into the NBA Draft is a touchy subject with both English and Wallace.

Neither wants to quite acknowledge it at this point.

"My focus is on this team winning the WAC Tournament right now," English said. "That's why I can't give any definite answers."

Wallace said he has not received favorable reviews on English from NBA scouts he has talked to.

"The pro process can be a fickle thing and you never know what's really happening," Wallace said. "But everybody I've talked to said Carl needs another year of college."

What's more, Wallace said English's status greatly affects the lone remaining scholarship UH has to offer for next season.

"We'd like to find a (forward)," Wallace said. "But if there's even a chance that Carl might go, we need to find a scorer to replace him."

English's decision could also affect a possible spot on Canada's national team, which will try to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

"There's so many things surrounding this ... it's hard," English said.

Soft touch

As hard as he is on the basketball court, English can be equally soft away from it.

His shooting skills have made him a favorite among male admirers; his boy-band looks have made him a favorite among female fans.

"You watch him sign autographs and he treats every one like they are something special," Wallace said. "That's why all the kids gravitate toward him when we have signings. He walks around and everybody knows, that's Carl English."

Now if only the NBA scouts would recognize it. Or not.

"This is just the start for him," Wallace said. "Because of all the publicity he got this year, I think people will be more aware of him next year."

Regardless, there is little doubt in the English family what Carl will be doing in the future.

"Knowing Carl, he's going to make it one way or another," Peter English said. "It might not be this year, it might not even be next year. But even if it's five years down the road, he'll find a way. He always does."

• • •

Western Athletic Conference Tournaments
At The Reynolds Center, Tulsa, Okla.

Men

Hawai'i times

First Round

Yesterday

Texas-El Paso 86, San Jose State 80

Quarterfinals

Tomorrow

Southern Methodist vs. Boise State, 8 a.m.
Nevada vs. Louisiana Tech, 10:30 a.m.
Rice vs. Hawai'i, 2 p.m.
Tulsa vs. Texas-El Paso, 4:30 p.m.

Semifinals

Friday

SMU-Boise State winner vs. Nevada-Louisiana Tech winner, 2 p.m.
Rice-Hawai'i winner vs. Tulsa-Texas-El Paso winner, 4:30 p.m.

Championship

Saturday

Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

Women