Columnist Spencer Patterson: Gorman grad Carter joins CCSN roster

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 10:07 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at spencer@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4085.

Jason Carter, the first-team center on last year's Sun all-state squad, is back in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-9 former Bishop Gorman standout recently signed a letter of intent with the Community College of Southern Nevada, and enrolled in classes at the two-year college on Wednesday, according to Coyotes coach George Tarkanian.

"He's 6-9 and he's from Las Vegas, and you don't find much size here," said Tarkanian, whose start-up program will begin varsity play next season. "With someone like Jason in the middle, I think we're going to surprise a lot of people with how competitive we are."

Carter, a three-year starter for the Gaels, played in seven games for the University of Colorado this year, starting three. He averaged 17.6 minutes, six points and 5.6 rebounds, but struggled academically and was declared ineligible for the spring semester.

"We're getting a Big 12 center who played well at Colorado," Tarkanian said. "Basically, he needs to get his academics in order and graduate from (CCSN) in a year and a half. Then, he'll be a free agent and can go wherever he wants."

Carter joins several other area products on CCSN's growing roster, including Cimarron-Memorial graduate Brian Lang, a member of the Spartans' 1999 state championship squad. The squad has also signed two out-of-state players, including 6-5, 260-pound Danny Artest of Long Island, N.Y., younger brother of the Chicago Bulls' Ron Artest.

"The doctor initially said 3-5 weeks, but he's suggested we shut him down and we've set our mind that he's done for the year," said Huskies head coach Pete Padgett, David's father. "It was a blow. It felt like somebody kicked me in the stomach."

Padgett is scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine whether surgery will be necessary. Either way, he is expected to be ready to return to the court this summer.

Last summer, Padgett played on California-based all-star team Pump N Run with Bishop Gorman guard C.J. Watson, attracting the attention of the nation's Division I powers.

Though his Reno team is off to a slow start -- 12-9 overall, third in the Sierra Division -- Padgett was certainly carrying his share of the load, averaging 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks.

"Regardless of where we are in the standings, we felt like we'd be a force by the end of the year," Pete Padgett said. "David is disappointed. He's an ultra-competitive guy and he wants to be out there, but he understands it's best to be conservative right now."