TORONTO- While on a national tour of duty with Canada basketball, 32-year-old Carl English spoke with Hoops Hype Canada (HHC) and elaborated on his spectacular season last winter in Spain. English revealed details of his basketball career that dates back to the days of playing high school basketball in St. Johns, Newfoundland.
Car English at Canada camp with Steve Nash looking on.
Carl English left Newfoundland at 16 years old and moved in with family in the Greater Toronto Area, hoping to enhance his chances of obtaining a college basketball scholarship.
From Newfoundland he landed in Oakville, Ontario. Despite a road block that calendar year when teachers went on strike and wiped out the basketball season, Carl was fortunate enough to draw interest from various mid major colleges, including Notre Dame and Creighton, among others.
Then entered a chance to attend Hawaii University. English was given an opportunity he couldn’t pass up – to attend the university and shine on the basketball court as a Rainbow Warrior. Although he loved the people and the culture, English realized that Hawaii University wasn’t going to give him the NBA exposure he had hoped.
English says, “when you’re in Hawaii it’s difficult for people to see you, because you’re so far away… So from a recruiting standpoint, it was tough for people to see you and like you. It was different but I wouldn’t change it, it’s done. It was a great chapter in my life.”
In his Junior year, English achieved his primary goal off the court, receiving a diploma from Hawaii University. Before making himself a household name in Europe, English flirted with the NBA. He received a two-year partial contract with the Indiana Pacers, but never played regularly in a Pacer uniform. Still, he was kept in high regards by the Pacers president at the time – Isaiah Thomas. When Larry Bird took over the Presidential reigns from Thomas, English became a victim of a numbers game.
Draft day 2003. English and childhood sweetheart and wife Mandy.
“Being undrafted was extremely difficult. Isaiah (Thomas) really liked me but Larry (Bird) came in,” English explained. “In a numbers game, I was lowest on the totem pile…they just signed Jermaine (O’Neal) to a huge contract and luxury taxes played a part.”
Following his stint with the Pacers, English was given an opportunity with another NBA team – the Seattle Supersonics. With his NBA career not panning out as he had hoped, and a realization that he was not getting any younger, English began contemplating the NBDL route. Attracted by the prospect of a steady salary, English landed in Europe. English first played in Italy, then Croatia, followed by Spain, where English and his family have made their home for the past 6 years.
In his first five years in Spain, English lived the dream, despite not being in the NBA. Nonetheless, he’s played for what is arguably the second best league in the world. During the 2011-12 season with Estudiantes club, 31-year-old English decided to take a step back and re-evaluate his game. It provided to be a successful tactic, with English managing to surge his career to new heights that he had never before reached.
“I felt the previous season, I could’ve done a lot more to help the team but the coach didn’t use me enough,” he said, referring to his 15 minutes of court time per game. “I came in there (into next season) pretty upset. I really buckled down all summer and came in there with a chip on my shoulder,” English said.
With Canada Basketball’s World Cup qualifying campaign on the horizon and a personal vendetta to return to the elite level of the ACB, English flourished and so did his club.
“When things were going well we qualified for the Kings Cup for the first time in like 5 to 6 years… we also battled for the playoffs,” English said. This was a remarkable accomplishment considering Estudiantes was dwelling in the bottom of the ACB standings the previous year.
“I kind of wanted to take them under my wing,” said English, who averaged a league high 17.2 points and drew heavy interest from Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in all of Europe.
“As a basketball player you always want to play at the highest level. My dream has always been to play in the NBA,” he said. This dream is not farfetched for the Spanish league star.
English continues to set goals for himself and work towards them. He said, “As of today I am with Estudiantes… within Spain or Europe I want to be on a high-level European club and play two times a week.”
English nearly made the switch to Catalan giants, Barcelona, earlier this year. He explained, “I almost went to Barcelona, it was very close. I wanted the second year, they just wanted (contract) for the 5 months, which I completely understand at that point in time… It’s been a slow process this year based on the market and European basketball.”
Although English isn’t certain what will happen with his career path, it appears that at the age of 32, he has only scratched the surface of a long legacy.
English said that if the association comes calling, he is prepared to take on the opportunity. “Still keeping the hope alive…the thing NBA teams got to realize is if you play at a high level in Europe you’re pretty good. You can come in there… and help right away. Pablo (Pirgioni) got in the playoffs, Anthony Parker did the same thing and even Alan (Anderson) was huge for the Raptors this year,” he said.
English’s dream to rejoin the NBA is still alive. A chance to lead Canada to the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain could only enhance his chances.
2013 Carl at Team Canada invitee Camp in Toronto, Ontaio.
For more on the Carl English story, including the ups and downs of his amazing basketball journey, listen to our one-on-one interview.
By: Mark Bairos