RECRUITING: Canyon Springs’ Carr commits to Texas-El Paso
Canyon Springs senior point guard Shaquile Carr made an oral commitment to Texas-El Paso on Friday, Pioneers boys basketball coach Freddie Banks confirmed.
Carr’s commitment is nonbinding, and the first day he can sign a letter of intent is April 16. UTEP’s coaches cannot comment until that time.
“When UTEP called and told me they wanted him, I was relieved,” Banks said. “I applaud him for his decision, and I’m honored to coach him.”
The 6-foot-1-inch Carr chose the Miners over Loyola Marymount. He was given a verbal scholarship offer by UNLV as a junior, but Carr was academically ineligible during Canyon Springs’ run to the Division I state tournament last season, and the Rebels backed off during his senior year.
Banks said Carr still has some work to do to become academically eligible, but he added that Carr compiled a 3.0 grade-point average during the first quarter of the school year.
“He’s a very smart kid,” Banks said. “Everybody was maybe doubtful, but as a coach I never doubted him. … I never thought he was a junior college player. He can play.”
Carr scored 16 points in Wednesday’s 91-78 victory over No. 4 Las Vegas and is averaging 14.3 points per game for the sixth-ranked Pioneers (14-4, 3-0 Northeast League).
Carr is rated a three-star recruit by ESPN.com and Rivals.com. He is expected to be part of a six-player recruiting class for Miners coach Tim Floyd made up entirely of perimeter players.
“I think he’ll bring a lot to that program,” Banks said. “He’s working on his jump shot. He’ll have to learn how to shoot a floater or continue on to the basket and dunk the ball like he has. His strength is he goes to the basket real strong. And he sees the court really well and pushes the ball.”