Carr gets taste of the pro ranks

CONFIDENT HE CAN MAKE ABA TEAM

(6/5/06)

Whoosh! photo Former UIC guard Aaron Carr works out for the ABA’s Chicago Rockstars at Fenwick High School in Oak Park. Here he is guarded by Lawrence Weller (80).

When the Chicago Rockstars franchise was formed a few months ago, former UIC guard Aaron Carr saw an opportunity to get back into what he loves.

The 6-foot-4-inch Carr attended the first two tryout camps for the fledgling ABA team and impressed the coaching staff, which includes the head man, former UIC star Kenny Williams.

“I thought Aaron played well,” Williams said after the first tryout at the Flames Athletic Center in April. “I liked his game. He can play some point guard, and I’m a point-guard coach. He can dribble and distribute as well as score.”

Carr played at UIC from 2000-04 and finished his Flames career with 895 points. He hasn’t played professionally yet, but had a tryout with last fall with the CBA’s Dakota Wizards, whose assistant coach is Flame Bryant Notree. He also had a deal to play in Ireland last December, but that also fell through.

Meanwhile, Carr has stayed in Chicago after his graduation from UIC and works in the Chicago Public School system. He works with his former high school coach at Lincoln Park, Cyrus McGinnis, who is the coordinator for boys high school basketball. Carr’s passion has driven him to get back into the game.

“I’ve been working out, keeping in shape, play ball as much as I can,” Carr said. “I’m probably more confident in game now. The older you get, the more confident you get in your game. You learn some tricks, you get smarter.”

Carr hopes that his versatility can be asset and his ticket to the Rockstars’ roster. He can play three positions, including the point and small forward.

“I always like to get my teammates involved,” Carr said. “I was like that at UIC. We had Ced [Banks] and Martell [Bailey] could shoot when he was open. I like setting people up, but I like to shoot to.”

His family, including his 2-year-old daughter, is still rooted in the city, so the chance to play professionally close to home was a no-brainer.

Whoosh! photo Carr takes a break from the workout and chats with former Loyola player Louis Smith.

“There’s a lot of competition here, a lot of guys playing hard,” Carr said during the Rockstars’ second tryout at Fenwick High School last Saturday. “I believe things will work out for me.”

Carr keeps in shape by practicing at the Flames Athletic Center and he sees a bright future for not only himself, but also the Flames.

“I see Coach [Jimmy] Collins at least two, three times a week,” Carr said. “I like to get in there and shoot and run up and down the court a bit.

“We’ve gotten in some scrimmages in there. They’re going to be pretty decent next season, but they’ve got to find some leadership.”

Carr did forecast good things from one current UIC player.

“Othyus Jeffers should be the go-to guy,” Carr said. “He’s strong, he rebounds, and he’s working on his shot. You should look forward to seeing him score on the perimeter some this year too.”

Whatever happens to him, Carr knows he has good memories from his days at UIC. He’ll forever be known for lighting up Northwestern at the Pavilion in his senior season, as well as his game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer at Loyola later that same season.

“We went to the [NCAA] tournament twice. My freshman year was up and down, but the last three years were great, playing with Ced, Martell and Armond [Williams]. All of us came to the program together.”

Carr wasn’t the only former Flame at the tryouts last week. Corry Tibbs (2000-03), a three-year walk-on at UIC was also present. He looked as confident as ever, making jump shots and good decisions.

“I learned a lot at UIC,” Tibbs said. “It got me ready for the next level. I’m taking my time. I’m letting the game come to me. Guys like Mark Miller, Cedrick Banks, and Martell Bailey really helped me out. I wasn’t a big-name guy at UIC, but I came out here to show myself. “

The workout “is a lot like what I went through at UIC,” Tibbs continued. “I was on the 2002 NCAA tournament team. In college, that’s every player’s dream.”

Tibbs currently works as a teacher’s aide.

“I got welcomed to the real world,” Tibbs chuckled. “I got a job, but I’m still working on my game.

Will Lewis was also in attendance. Lewis was part of the same recruiting class as Banks, Bailey, Williams and Carr, but his career turned when had to sit out his freshman season with a torn ACL. He played in just one game as a Flame in 2001 before transferring to Western Illinois.

Other local products working out included former Loyola stars Derek Molis and Louis Smith, former DePaul standout Ayinde Avery and Robert Morris grad Aaron Wellington.

RECRUITING NEWS: According to Rivals.com and other sources, UIC is one several schools that has offered 6-foot-8 power forward Dwight McCombs a scholarship for the 2007-08 school year.

McCombs is a decent prospect with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He can run the floor and finish inside, but most of all, he is a defensive presence. He also has offers from Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, Loyola, St. Louis and Miami (Ohio).

Meanwhile, Loyola beat out UIC for forward 6-foot-8, 175-pound forward Marvell Waithe from Toronto. He chose the Ramblers over the Flames, Cincinnati, Rutgers and Duquense.

BANKS HONORED IN FRANCE: Former UIC star Cedrick Banks, the school’s all-time leading scorer, was named the foreign MVP for the French Pro-B League.

Banks (pictured) led Besancon to a 24-10 record and the regular-season championship, enabling the club to move up to Pro-A next season.

In a 93-77 victory over Levallois on May 19, Banks had a solid game of 18 points, five rebounds and six assists in the team’s regular-season finale. Besancon is now in the semifinals after 2-1 series victory over Angers.

OLD COACH COMING BACK: Bob Hallberg, the former great coach of the Flames, will return to the UIC Pavilion as the head women’s basketball coach of St. Xavier. Hallberg’s Cougars, who finished 24-9 last season and made it to the second round of NAIA national tournament, will play Lisa Ryckbosch’s Flames in an exhibition game on Nov. 7.

“It will be my third time back at the Pavilion,” Hallberg said last week. “It will be a nice game for our team. Denny Wills always helps in getting us this game.”

Wills is an assistant athletic director at UIC and was a former assistant for Hallberg with the Flames.

Hallberg brought St. Xavier in for an exhibition contest in 2002 and the Cougars fought hard before falling 80-72. Hallberg also visited the Pavilion last December to watch former Flames player and assistant coach Tracy Dildy came to town with Ole Miss. …

Another ex-Flames coach, former assistant Gene Cross, was hired at Notre Dame last week as an assistant to Mike Brey. Cross was with Dave Leitao at Virginia last season.

WELCOME, VALPO: Valparaiso University has officially joined the Horizon League. The Crusaders will enter the conference for the 2007-08 season after spending one more year in the Mid-Continent Conference.

“The Flames and Crusaders enjoyed many memorable confrontations on the playing field and a strong working relationship off of it as former charter members of the Mid-Continent Conference,” UIC athletic director Jim Schmidt said. “It is great to have them back as a conference affiliate.

“This is a great day for the Horizon League and all of its member institutions. Valparaiso’s alliance with the founding platforms of the Horizon League, their tradition of success within their athletic department and their location in the heart of the league makes them an ideal choice.”

Valparaiso’s rich athletics history is highlighted by seven appearances in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament from 1996-2004, including a dramatic trip to the Sweet 16 in 1998. The Crusaders had one of the most memorable moments in NCAA history as Bryce Drew hit a miraculous three-pointer on a brilliant inbounds play as Valpo upset

Ole Miss in the first round of the ’98 tournament. They also defeated Florida State to advance to the regional semifinals.

The Crusaders also captured 10 straight Mid-Continent Conference regular-season or tournament titles from 1994-95 through 2003-04.

“I think [Valparaiso] is a great fit for the Horizon League,” UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. “We are getting a school that is first and foremost a top-notch academic institution. Secondly, they have a history of success in their basketball program and are led by a Hall of Fame coach in Homer Drew. We are happy to welcome them to our league.”

Valpo’s admittance to the Horizon creates or renews rivalries with UIC, Loyola and Butler.

STILL TO COME: WhooshNet! is working on several stories for the upcoming weeks. We’ll take a closer look at former Flame Kenny Williams in his new job as the head coach of the Chicago Rockstars of the ABA. … Also, we’ll have part 3 of the season in-review series, which will also look ahead.