By PAUL GOTHAM
Nearly 500 miles separate University of Dayton Arena and Ed Nietopski Gymnasium. Distance hasn’t prevented Dayton head coach Archie Miller from keeping track of future Flyer and current Bishop Kearney King, Nahziah Carter.
“I know he did a tremendous job last Tuesday,” Miller said referring to Carter’s 24-point performance in Kearney’s 94-64 win over rival McQuaid Jesuit. “I had multiple messages, text messages all kinds of stuff after the game just raving about the potential sleeper that no one knows that we got.”
Carter averaged 19 points for the Kings to go with six rebounds and four assists per game during the regular season. The 6-foot-5 guard scored more than 24 points over BK’s final four games – a stretch which the Kings won three of four. Their only loss coming on 40-foot shot at the buzzer in a one-point loss to state-ranked West Genesee (III).
“We’re excited about him,” Miller added. “His upside is tremendous. He’s a great kid. He’s easy to talk to. He’s got a great personality.”
Carter poured in 28, and fifth-seeded Kearney opened the Class AA sectionals with a 94-72 victory over Gates-Chili, Wednesday night. The Kings will take on two-time sectional and reigning state champion Aquinas in Saturday’s quarter-final round. The two schools have combined to win 21 sectional titles. Bishop Kearney took the 2013 AA1 championship its third straight Section Five crown. The Kings went on to win the 2013 state title.
Aquinas and Bishop Kearney last met in 2012 a game featuring four current division-one players: Antwoine Anderson (Bishop Kearney/Fordham), Thomas Bryant (Bishop Kearney/Indiana), Chinonso Obokoh (Bishop Kearney/St. Bonaventure) and Phil Valenti (Aquinas/Canisius).
Carter is part of a highly-regarded recruiting class including Jordan Davis, Jordan Pierce and McKinley Wright. Davis (Dutch Fork/South Carolina) and Wright (Champlin Park/Minnesota) were nominees for McDonald’s All-America and both are their individual school’s all-time leading scorer. Pierce is a 7-foot center for Union Catholic in New Jersey. Davis was recently named South Carolina 5A Player of the Year. He earned the 4A honor a year ago.
Kostas Antetokounmpo, the younger brother of current NBA All Star Giannis, will join the incoming class as a redshirt freshman.
At 13-2, Dayton is tied atop the Atlantic 10 with VCU. The Flyers, 22-5 overall, play at Davidson Friday night. The 9 pm tipoff will be televised on ESPN2. Charles Cooke leads the Flyers, which have won seven straight and 10 of 11, with 16.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. UD is looking to reach the NCAA Tournament for a program-record fourth straight time. Dayton reached the 2014 Elite Eight. The Flyers are 137-60 under sixth-year coach Miller.
Bishop Kearney and Aquinas tip off at 5 pm. Carter’s younger brother, Eric, plays for Aquinas. The younger Carter scored 10 points in Li’l Irish 68-40 victory over Webster-Schroeder. The junior guard scored 2.9 points and grabbed 1.7 rebounds for the Li’l Irish this season.
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