8.10.2012
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Former Longwood University men's basketball standout
Antwan Carter of St. Petersburg, Fla. has signed to play professionally in Holland's Dutch League for Stepco BS Weert located in Weert, The Netherlands. He averaged 19.4 points and 9.2 rebounds, earning CollegeInsider.com, College Sports Madness, CollegeHoops.net and Roundball Daily.com's Independent Player of the Year. Longwood's all-time scoring leader with 1,886 career points, Carter will report to Stepco BS Weert and head coach Jim Meil later this month in preparation for the upcoming season.
“I'm thrilled for Antwan to have this opportunity,” said 10th year Longwood head coach Mike Gillian. “He has done all of the work over the past four years to get to this point, has matured a great deal, and has earned the right to play as a professional. In today's economic climate, these types of chances to play the game you love for a living are few and far between. It's awesome for him that he gets to have this experience – I, for one, believe wholeheartedly that he will succeed.”
Carter, a 6-6 left-handed post player, shot 51% (245-480) from the field, 31% (23-75) on three-point field goals and 72% (88-123) at the free throw line this past season, posting 31-straight double-figure scoring games, 14 20-point games and 11 double-doubles, while adding 30 steals and 27 blocks. In addition to becoming the all-time scoring leader at Longwood, he finished his career as the only player in the 36-year history of the program with at least 1,800 career points and 1,000 career rebounds (1,008, 2nd). Carter earned All-Tournament Team honors at both the 2011 Chicago Invitational Challenge and the 2011 Dr. Pepper Classic.
“I'm very excited and looking forward to this opportunity to play professional basketball,” said Carter. “This will be my first time traveling out of the country, and I can't wait to experience a totally different world as I take my game to the next level.
“I'm also extremely grateful to everyone who has helped me throughout my Longwood career in providing support to not only myself, but to the program too.”
Carter ranks first in career scoring (1,886), field goals (781), and field goals attempts (1,452), second in rebounding (1,008), tied for third in games (123), fifth in blocks (88), sixth in field goal percentage (.538) and free throw attempts (419), seventh in free throws (283), and 10th in free throw percentage (.675). He posted 101 career double-figure scoring games, led the Lancers in scoring 56 times, had 31 20-point games and 38 career double-doubles.
“We are very excited to have Antwan as a player on our team,” said Meil. “He had an outstanding college career at Longwood. His ability to score and rebound along with his basketball knowledge gives him a great basis to start his professional playing career. I know Coach Gillian and his staff have prepared Antwan well for his future.”
Holland's Dutch League regular season is scheduled to run from October to mid-April. There are 10 teams in the league and all games are played within Holland. The city of Weert is located in the South of Holland, approximately an hour and a half from Amsterdam.
