The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE standout season for Michael Carey Jr continues as he was honoured as the top player in the Northeast Conference for the second time this season.

The Wagner University junior guard set new milestones for himself and for his team as his Wagner Seahawks have surged to the No.1 seed in the conference tournament.

He was named the NEC Conference Player of the Week. In two games, Carey averaged 17 points, 14 rebounds three assists, and three blocks per game while shooting 67 per cent from the field. With the regular season title on the line, Carey posted 11 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a win over St Francis. He followed with 23 points, a career high 17 rebounds and three blocks in a 65-54 win in the regular season finale over Robert Morris.

In an early season interview, Carey gave insight to how rebounding has become an integral part of his game. “I just really do everything. A lot of people around basketball that have watched me have said I’m the type of player who’s an intangibles guy so I do what it takes to win. I don’t mind doing all the little things,” he said.

“Rebounding just so happens to be one of my strengths because of my athleticism, but when it comes time to assist, score or make some plays I do that. There’s no plan to get every rebound it just so happens that rebounds converts to scoring and us not having to work so hard on defence.”

Their historic push toward the NCAA tournament begins in earnest tonight at 7pm, when the Seahawks face Robert Morris for the second time in less than a week.

The Seahawks (20-9, 13-5) will host the Colonials at the Spiro Sports Centre in Staten Island, New York at 7pm.

For the year, Carey has posted 13 double-doubles which ranks third in the conference. He also averages 12.0 points and ranks fourth in the conference at 9.1 rebounds per game and ninth in field goal percentage at .504. He originally won NEC Player of the Week in early February when he averaged 19 points and 6.5 rebounds during a two-game span. It was then that he set a career high with 26 points in a win over St Mary’s.

Carey discussed the changes to his game since coming to Wagner and the steps necessary to take his game to an even higher level.

“They’ve encouraged me to be more vocal. They know my background, they know the history of everything I went through switching schools so they just wanted me to bring my experience to the team. I think I’ve been doing that. If I see something is wrong with what guys are doing I just feel the need to point that out,” he said.

“I just have to continue to increase my numbers and be as efficient as possible. I’m going to have to do everything in the stat line.”

Carey, a combo guard, transferred to Wagner following a two-year tenure with popular JUCO to NCAA DI pipeline, San Jacinto Community College Ravens in Pasadena, Texas. He averaged 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last season in his sophomore campaign. Mason scouted Carey at the JUCO nationals last spring.

Carey, who originally committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, was highly recruited out of high school. At the peak of his high school recruitment, ESPN.com had Carey ranked 88 out of a possible 100 points, 52nd among shooting guards and his list of schools included Oregon, Arkansas, Baylor and Houston.