- Indiana
The Carson Effect — Crispus Attucks junior Jaylen Carson jets toward stardom
Jaylen Carson is coming along fast as a prospect out of the front court for Indianapolis city champ Crispus Attucks. The length, the hunger, the hops, the finishing ability around the rim, they’re all there.
The 6-foot-7 junior had a game for the ages last week, totaling 26 points and 15 rebounds in the Tigers’ 94-91 besting of Indianapolis Cathedral in double-overtime to bag the program first city title in 58 years.
Encouraging, to say the least. Carson’s performance stirred up the echoes of Tigers hoop icons of the past, like Oscar Robertson, Hallie Bryant, Willie Gardner and Willie Merriweather, who built the program’s historic dynasty of the 1950s.
A sign of things to come? It certainly looks like it — Carson’s averaging a double-double of 10 points and 10 boards per game and appears ready to take his game up to a whole other level as his Crispus Attucks club (13-3) heads into the home stretch of the season.
Continuing to watch him blossom as a baller will be quite a treat for Tigers fans in the Circle City. In other words, February and March could surely mean more Carson magic, which is a daunting thought for upcoming opponents.
— SCOTT M. BURNSTEIN
