KC Is Our MVP

[dex]

Today Kyron played with a heavy heart after learning of the passing of his Grandmother.

I suspect the leagues assist leader dedicated this ncaa clinching game to her.

Our Warrior

Ps and back next year

[wtm97]

He is without a doubt the MVP of this team. Did not know of his Grandmother's passing...

This is one sharp and very hard working young man in so many ways both on and off the court of basketball.

Have been a big Cartwright fan from day 1 when he walked out on the court as a Freshman - talk about player development?

Look no further than KC, (unless you want to look at Jalen Lindsey as well)

[dmac80]

Cooley has gotten the most of virtually every player that earns there way into the rotation. It's really a thing of beauty to watch each of these kids develop year in and year out.

[dex]

FRIARS JOURNAL

Cartwright plays despite grandmother’s death

By Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer


Cartwright

NEW YORK — As Providence prepared for practice on Friday at Baruch College, Kyron Cartwright was left to absorb some devastating news.

The junior from Compton, Calif., was informed that his grandmother, Elaine Henderson, had died unexpectedly. The news hit him hard.

“It was difficult,” Cartwright said. “I was always close with her, me and my brother. It’s tough”

Cartwright and his older brother, Bryce, were raised by their grandmother. She would often pick up the boys from school while her daughter, Jenise, was at work. “That’s who we would be with when our mom and dad were working,” he said.

When Cartwright moved across the country for college he surrendered his bedroom to his grandmother. Cartwright was set to travel h o m e t o Los Angeles after Saturday’s win at St. John’s to be with his family. He’ll rejoin the Friars before their Big East Tournament game on Thursday night.

“I give Kyron a lot of credit. That’s tough,” said freshman Alpha Diallo. “We had to pick him up today. He really didn’t show any signs but he played emotional.”

Cartwright continued his breakout junior season with one of his more well-rounded games. He shot 3-for-12 from the floor but scored eight points, grabbed eight rebounds and had seven assists. He’s a potential first-team All-Big East pick and becomes the fourth PC player in five seasons to lead the conference in assists

(6.8 per game), joining Vincent Council, Bryce Cotton and Kris Dunn.

Jackson, Diallo provide boost

Ed Cooley said he knew his team needed a lift when leading scorer Rodney Bullock picked up two early fouls and then his fourth with 17:27 to play. He was happy to have a few candidates pick up the slack.

“I was really proud of Isaiah Jackson and Alpha Diallo. We needed them with Rodney going out early,” Cooley said.

Jackson’s team-high 18 points were his season-high and marked the fourth time in five games he’s reached double figures. Just as important, he frequently shadowed Red Storm scoring leaders Shamorie Ponds or Bashir Ahmed.

“I just try to figure out whatever way I can attack the defense and put us at an advantage,” Jackson said. “Today I wanted to get to the paint.”

Jackson is a laid-back Floridian who is frequently pushed by his teammates to play more assertively.

“We joke with him all the time and just try to keep him aggressive for the team,” Cartwright said. “It opens the floor up for everyone else.”

The other leader for the Friars was Diallo. A New York native (Harlem), Diallo played two years of high school ball at Frederick Douglass Academy but his team never had a chance to play at Madison Square Garden. He enjoyed his first game on the city’s biggest hoop stage as he had 17 points and four assists.

Struggling Storm

St. John’s struggled badly on offense, shooting 19 percent in the first half on four field goals and 37.1 percent for the game. Even so, the Red Storm flashed their ability down the stretch as they scored 20 points in the final 2:50. The 75 points were the most given up by the Friars in their last eight games.

“St. John’s is a dangerous team offensively and can really, really score the ball,” Cooley said. “I thought our guys came in with a sense of purpose and urgency.”

Providence came in second in the recruiting race for Ponds, who is the likely rookie of the year in the Big East. He poured in a season-high 29 points and had 12 of his team’s 23 field goals.

“The kid Ponds is phenomenal,” Cooley said. “I know him personally; we tried to recruit him. He came and gave me a big hug. I thought that was a class act.”

T h e S t o r m w i l l h o s t Georgetown in the opening game of the Big East tournament on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Mullin’s team will improve next season with the addition of two transfers in 6-foot-7 Marvin Clark (Michigan State) and 6-5 Justin Simon (Arizona).