TO VIEW THE STATESMAN JOURNAL'S FEATURE ARTICLE ON CARTER, CLICK HERE
SALEM, Ore. – With seven games remaining in the current season, Corban's eighth-year head coach
Justin Sherwood began to put the pieces of next year's puzzle together Thursday night with the signing of local McKay senior
Jordan Carter (Salem, Ore.) to a Letter on Intent for the 2010-11 season.
"We are all very excited about Jordan becoming a Warrior," said Sherwood. "He is a great player, great student and most importantly a great person and will have an immediate impact on campus. As a player Jordan is complete, he can shoot, drive, rebound, pass and most importantly he has the drive."
With over 93% of this year's roster expected to return next season, Sherwood needed to add another prolific scorer to his team. With the addition of the reigning Central Valley League co-Player of the Year, the Warriors' head coach has filled that spot with Carter who is averaging 22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season.
Carter, a 6-foot-2 guard, is in the midst of his final season at McKay and has helped lead the Scots to a No. 7 ranking in the latest 6A coaches' poll thanks to a win-loss record of 13-2 so far this year that includes a perfect 5-0 mark in league play. Carter and McKay are in the midst of an eight-game winning streak and will return to the hardwood against conference foe West Salem tomorrow evening – Friday, February 29th – beginning at 5:30 p.m.
As a junior, Carter helped lead McKay to the opening round of the 6A state tournament thanks to an overall record of 11-11 that included a 4-6 mark in Central Valley League play. Despite his team's opening round loss to eventual state runner-up Lincoln, Carter earned league co-Player of the Year after leading the league and state of Oregon in scoring thanks to an average of 22.6 points per game. Along with his Player of the Year honor, Carter also garnished second team all-state recognition after moving from the post to the perimeter for his second year of prep basketball.
During his first season under former McKay head coach Jack Martino, Carter helped lead the Scots to a their first state tournament appearance in two seasons thanks to a win-loss mark of 17-9 overall and a 9-3 mark in Central Valley League play. During his sophomore season in which McKay advanced to the opening round of the 6A state tournament before falling to Canby, Carter led McKay in scoring with an average of 13.9 points per game en route to earning All-Central Valley 1st team honors following the conclusion of his first year of varsity play.
Carter will be joining current Warrior freshman
Jordan Graneto (Keizer, Ore.), who played at fellow league member McNary last season, on next year's roster. Carter will also add to the mix of local players on Corban's roster that includes a pair of former Western Mennonite stars and brothers – junior
Bryan Martin (Salem, Ore.) and freshman
Geoffrey Martin (Salem, Ore.).
Corban is currently in the midst of the 2009-10 season, as the Warriors are 6-16 overall and 1-10 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Corban will return to the court tomorrow night – Friday, January 29th – against the Raiders of Southern Oregon with tip-off scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.