The one-two punch of seniors Khadeen Carrington and Michael Williams on the Bishop Loughlin basketball team will be graduating in June and headed separate ways but both in New Jersey. They certainly will be missed by the Loughlin fans, student body, faculty and the staff of the Catholic High Schools Athletic Association.
They aren’t going far by a long shot, either. Effective September, they will be putting on different uniforms — Carrington at Seton Hall and Williams at Rutgers.
However, during the regular season of action they will be playing each other. Both signed letters of intent with their respective colleges.
Carrington scored 26 points and Williams netted 22 markers from the guard positions to lead Loughlin to a 93-63 rout over Holy Cross in a semi-final game of the Diocese of Brooklyn tournament and a few evening later Carrington went to town and netted 42 points to Williams’ 19 in a 91-71 trouncing over Christ The King, for the championship and the right to advance into the Intersectional playoffs. CTK also advances into the same tourney. The key to the win over Christ The King was playing good defense.
The winner of the Intersectional title advances upstate to vie in the New York State tournament.
Williams made shots from all over the court-on layups from the inside and from long range out but Carrington was the talk of both games, especially the finals of the Diocese of Brooklyn one.
Both contests were staged at a neutral site, St. Francis Prep High School in Fresh Meadows, Queens.
Williams averaged about 20 points a game this year for Bishop Loughlin’s varsity.
“Carrington is amazing in things that he could do (on the court),” said Williams.
After the season is over, which includes the playoffs, Williams will keep working hard for the next level.
“Mike is a quality basketball player and is a l,000 point scorer during his career at Bishop Loughlin,” said assistant coach Bob Leckie. “Carrington has become the all-time leading scorer at Bishop Loughin. Mike needs to keep working at his game to be able to play at that (college) level.”
It’s a big difference playing in college than in high school.
“I’ll be working on getting a little bigger, on conditioning and in free throw shooting,” said the 6’2” Williams. “He likes the ball in his hands and could also run the point.”
Williams will play both positions at Rutgers University.
Williams chose Rutgers over 11 other colleges, because it is close to his Brooklyn residence. And he also selected Rutgers because of Eddie Jordan’s background as a coach and a player. Jordan was an excellent player during his college days.
“Williams has to keep improving,” Leckie added. “He has to work on his stationery move to the basket. Rutgers was a great choice for him.”
Since basketball was in his family, Williams started playing at the age of three.
He started his high school playing days at Bishop Loughlin on its freshman team and was promoted to the varsity as a sophomore. He has certainly progressed during his time in high school. He credit his success to head coach Edwin Gonzalez and the staff.
Williams just got nominated to the National Honor Society thus making everybody proud of him. Now he can’t wait until college.
“My dream is to play in the NBA, like (most) everyone else’s” Williams said.
“(Actually) I start college in August.”
AP Photo/Gregory Payan/File
