Carl English

Carl Jerome English (born February 2, 1981) is a Canadian former professional basketball player and general manager for the St. John's Edge of the National Basketball League of Canada. A shooting guard, he has also played for the Canadian national team.

Carl English
English with the St. John's Edge in 2017
Personal information
Born (1981-02-02) February 2, 1981
St. John's, Newfoundland[lower-alpha 1]
NationalityCanadian
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeHawaii (1999–2003)
NBA draft2003: undrafted
Playing career2003–2020
PositionShooting guard
Career history
2003–2005Florida Flame[lower-alpha 2]
2005–2006Virtus Bologna
2006–2007Zadar
2007–2009Gran Canaria
2009–2010Baskonia
2010–2011Joventut
2011–2012Sevilla
2012–2013Estudiantes
2014Canarias
2014–2015AEK Athens
2016Caciques de Humacao
2016Canarias
2016–2017Alba Berlin
2017–2020St. John's Edge
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing  Canada
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place2015 Toronto

Born in St. John's, Newfoundland, English was a member of the provincial youth team and shone with his local school Fatima Academy, before moving to St. Thomas Aquinas. He spent four seasons at the NCAA Division I level with Hawaii, the first of which he redshirted due to injury. He earned All-WAC accolades in his final two years of college and left with the second-most career three-pointers in school history.

After going undrafted in the 2003 NBA draft, English began his professional career in the NBA D-League. In 2005, he signed with Italian team Virtus Bologna. English subsequently joined Zadar in Croatia, where he was one of the best scorers. In 2007, he moved to Spain for several years, leading the top Spanish league in scoring with Estudiantes in 2013. He returned to his hometown in 2017 with NBL Canada team St. John's Edge and was named Most Valuable Player and Canadian of the Year in his first season.

Early life and high school career

English was born in St. John's, Newfoundland in Canada to Kevin and Lavinia English and had four brothers, named Peter, Michael, Bradley, and Kevin Jr. When he was five years old, his family's house caught fire in March 1986, but he escaped with his brothers. However, his parents suffered severe burns and both died in the next month.[2] As a result, English began living with his aunt and uncle, Betty and Junior McGrath, and with his cousins in Patrick's Cove-Angels Cove, a remote community in Newfoundland. His brothers were separated among different family relatives.[3]

In Patrick's Cove-Angels Cove, English practiced basketball on a makeshift hoop built by his uncle beside Route 100, a two-lane highway in front of their house.[4][2] He often played with his brothers when they visited. In eighth grade, English was the starting point guard for Fatima Academy in the nearby town of St. Bride's, averaging 50 points per game.[5][6] He was named team most valuable player (MVP) and was also a member of the varsity cross country team.[7] At age 16, English joined the provincial basketball team at the 1997 Canada Summer Games, where he was a starter despite being younger than most of his opponents.[8]

For his senior year, English transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario, a program that had produced NCAA Division I players. He started living with his cousin Howie. After a labor dispute suspended the school's basketball program for a year, English considered returning home.[5] However, he remained after joining a Canadian under-18 team that competed across the United States. His success with the team drew attention from top college programs, including Georgetown, Michigan, and Syracuse.[8]

College career

Holding about 50 scholarship offers from college programs, English decided to attend the University of Hawaii and play for the Rainbow Warriors.[9] He became the third player from Newfoundland to play NCAA Division I basketball.[6] English only played 2 games in his first season before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left ankle.[3] He averaged 2 points and 1 rebound per game and was allowed to redshirt the season.[5][10] As a redshirt freshman, he averaged 4.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, coming off the bench through 28 games.[10] He scored a season-high 25 points in a championship game win over Tulsa at the 2001 WAC tournament, in which he was named MVP.[7]

In his sophomore season, English averaged 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, earning second-team All-WAC honors.[10][7] On February 21, 2002, he scored 28 points, shooting 5-of-7 from three-point range, against Tulsa.[7] English posted a season-best 33 points in a win over Fresno State on March 2, as Hawaii claimed a share of the WAC regular season title.[11] He averaged 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in his junior campaign and was named first-team All-WAC and to the All-WAC Tournament team.[7][10] On January 14, 2003, English erupted for 30 points against Fresno State.[12] Later in the month, he scored 30 points again, in an 85–70 win over Rice.[13] On February 2, 2003, English tallied 28 points, with a career-high 8 three-pointers, to guide his team past Tulsa.[14] He broke Hawaii's single-season three-pointer record, with 89, and ranked second in school history in career three-pointers.[7][15]

Professional career

NBA D-League stint (2003–2005)

Despite having one more year of college eligibility, English entered the 2003 NBA draft, confident that he would be selected by a team.[15] After going undrafted, he joined the Indiana Pacers for NBA training camp, where he impressed general manager Larry Bird.[16] On October 26, English was waived by the Pacers.[17] On November 6, he was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2003 National Basketball Development League draft by the Charleston Lowgators.[18] In 2003, he was also picked by the Idaho Stampede in the fourth round of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) draft.[19] Through 45 games with the Lowgators, English averaged 8.4 points, 2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 19.1 minutes per game.[20] He ranked second in the league with 50 three-pointers.[21] On October 5, 2004, English signed with the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA but was waived 10 days later.[17] He returned to the D-League with his old team, which had relocated and changed its name to the Florida Flame.[9] Through 48 games, English averaged 14.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 46% from the field.[20] He finished with the fifth most points in the league.[22]

Move to Europe (2005–2007)
English dribbles the ball for Spanish team Estudiantes in February 2013.

English played for the Cleveland Cavaliers at 2005 NBA Summer League.[23] For the 2005–06 season, he played with Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A. Through 25 games, English averaged 7.6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 19.9 minutes per game.[17] On December 28, 2005, he scored a season-high 22 points, with 5 three-pointers, in an 84–78 loss to Reggiana.[24] In 2006–07, English signed with Zadar of the Croatian League and ABA League, leading the team to a Croatian National Cup victory.[8] He finished second in the Croatian League in scoring, with 27 points per game, and earned all-league second team honors from basketball website Eurobasket.[25] In addition, he was named ABA League All-Star and won the All-Star MVP award.[19]

Success in Spain (2007–2014)

On July 27, 2007, English signed with Spanish team Gran Canaria of the Liga ACB and ULEB Cup for the 2007–08 season.[26] Through 34 ACB games, he averaged 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Through 14 ULEB Cup games, English averaged 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.[17] In his debut on October 6, 2007, he recorded a team-high 18 points and 4 steals in a 68–61 win over Sevilla.[27] On December 9, English scored 26 points, shooting 4-of-7 on three-pointers, in an 85–79 loss to Granada.[28] He scored a season-high 28 points in 25 minutes on January 20, 2008, against FC Barcelona.[29] On August 3, 2008, English re-signed with Gran Canaria for one more season.[30] He averaged 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game through 33 ACB games. English averaged 15.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game through 6 EuroCup games.[lower-alpha 3][17] He made his season debut on October 8, 2008, scoring 20 points in a 76–68 loss to Zaragoza.[31]

In 2009, he left CB Gran Canaria and joined Caja Laboral for the 2009–10 season, where he averaged 9.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in the ACB League. On 3 August 2010, he signed with DKV Joventut.[32] In August 2011 he moved to Cajasol Sevilla.[33]

One year later, he signs for CB Estudiantes leaving the team in 2013 without finishing the season.

Another year later, in March 2014, English agreed terms with Iberostar Tenerife.

Twilight years (2014–2017)

On November 5, 2014, English signed with AEK Athens of the Greek Basketball League.[34]

Return to Canada (2017–present)

On November 15, 2017, English signed with the St. John's Edge of the National Basketball League of Canada.[35] In his season debut versus the Island Storm on November 18, he made a game-winning three-pointer with about 4 seconds left.[36] On March 3, 2018, English broke the league's single-game scoring record with 58 points in a 127–117 win over the KW Titans.[37] He finished the season with 23.7 points per game, second in the league behind Royce White.[38]

National team career

English has been part of Canada Basketball since 2000. He has been a crucial component of the Canadian national basketball team in recent years and spent the summer of 2008 playing with the Canadian national team, trying to help them qualify for the 2008 Olympics.[39]

The following summer English also participated in the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship, he helped lead Canada to a 4th-place finish losing in the 3rd place game to Argentina.

Personal life

English is married to his high school sweetheart Mandy and has three children: son Ryder, and daughters Kirsten and Kylie.[40]

Notes
  1. In 2001, after English was born, his birth province changed its name to Newfoundland and Labrador.[1]
  2. During the 2003–04 season, the team was known as the Charleston Lowgators, before relocating to Fort Myers, Florida as the Florida Flame.
  3. Beginning in its 2008–09 season, the ULEB Cup was renamed to the EuroCup.

References
  1. "Newfoundland's name change now official". CBC. December 6, 2001. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  2. Farber, Michael (February 10, 2003). "Island hopper Raised in that noted hoops hotbed of Newfoundland, sharpshooting guard Carl English traveled 5,800 miles to become a star at Hawaii". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  3. Rossman, Nate (September 22, 2008). "Carl English Should Be in the NBA". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  4. "Carl English". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  5. Burton, Scott (July 10, 2012). "He's playing in paradise, but Carl English still calls the unforgiving shores of Newfoundland home". ESPN. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  6. "Carl English: His basketball journey from Newfoundland". Canada Basketball. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  7. "Carl English". University of Hawai'i Athletics. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  8. Short, Robin (July 26, 2008). "English's athleticism is as good as his story". The Telegram. Retrieved November 1, 2018 – via PressReader.
  9. Eaton, Jeremy (June 16, 2018). "Home court". CBC. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  10. "Carl English College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  11. "Hawaii wins WAC championship, win at Fresno State claims regular season crown". University of Hawai'i Athletics. March 2, 2002. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  12. Luis, Cindy (January 14, 2003). "Kuebler looking like Mike". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  13. "Warriors Return To Form In Route Of Rice". KFVE. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  14. "Feb 2, 2003 - Tulsa 67, Hawaii 73". RealGM. February 2, 2003. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  15. Macleod, Robert (June 28, 2003). "English attracts some attention". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  16. Morinaga, Dayton (July 19, 2003). "Ex-'Bow English signs with Pacers". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  17. "Carl English Player Profile". RealGM. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  18. Morinaga, Dayton (November 7, 2003). "For starters, it'll be Carter or Lee". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  19. "Carl English" (in Spanish). Liga ACB. Archived from the original on August 6, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  20. "Carl English G-League Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  21. "National Basketball Development League 2003-04 Season Summary". Basketball Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  22. "NBA D-League 2004-05 Season Summary". Basketball Reference. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  23. "2005 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Summer League Roster". RealGM. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  24. "Dec 28, 2005 - Virtus Lavoro Bologna 78, Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia 84". RealGM. December 28, 2005. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  25. "Eurobasket.com All-Croatian League Awards 2006-07". Eurobasket. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  26. "Gran Canaria inks guard Carl English". ULEB Cup. July 27, 2007. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  27. "Oct 6, 2007 - Real Betis Energia Plus 61, Herbalife Gran Canaria 68". RealGM. October 6, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  28. "Dec 9, 2007 - Herbalife Gran Canaria 79, CB Granada 85". RealGM. December 9, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  29. "Jan 20, 2008 - FC Barcelona 74, Herbalife Gran Canaria 88". RealGM. January 20, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  30. "Gran Canaria re-signs scorer Carl English". ULEB Cup. August 3, 2008. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  31. "Oct 8, 2008 - Tecnyconta Zaragoza 76, Herbalife Gran Canaria 68". RealGM. October 8, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  32. DKV Joventut signs Carl English
  33. Cajasol announces Carl English
  34. "Carl English and Tomas Delininkaitis join AEK Athens". Archived from the original on 2015-09-20. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
  35. "Edge Sign Carl English". sjedge.ca. November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  36. McCarthy, Brendan (November 18, 2017). "'I told the guys, 'Don't worry: Carl English hits three-pointer to give St. John's Edge a win in their first-ever game". The Telegram. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  37. "Hometown hero Carl English sets league record as St. John's Edge sweep series". CBC. March 4, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  38. "Individual Offense Leaders". NBL Canada. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  39. Canadian National Team Profile Archived July 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  40. "English returns home to Newfoundland to play basketball". The Sports Network. November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
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