Kashief Carr doesn’t like watching basketball games from the bench. He spent plenty of time there as a sophomore, puzzled that he wasn’t making it into the Southern Rams’ starting lineup.
But coach George Anderson had his reasons. He had noticed his 6-foot-4 guard-forward slacking on defense, and decided that watching from the bench might be more beneficial.
"His maturity level wasn’t that high, and he wasn’t focusing on learning the system," Anderson said. "Instead of working harder, he went into a funk, but by the end of the season he worked his way back into the starting lineup."
The momentum is carrying over to this season as the junior, of 17th and Sigel streets, leads Southern’s offense and all Division D scorers with 21 points per game. Better yet, his 8-0 Rams are serious contenders for the Public League crown.
"I didn’t get a chance to play last year," Carr said during a Tuesday break from his lunch period. "This year, I am showing what I can do. Last year I made a couple bad mistakes that are in the past."
The 16-year-old athlete’s consistent shooting touch is evidence of his progress. Against Parkway, he shot 7-for-14 for 20 points. Against Bodine, he shot 10-for-13 for 23 points. In last Tuesday’s 82-30 win over Girard Academic Music Program, Carr shot 8-for-10 for 19 points.
"He has a green light for a reason," Anderson said. "He has so many different ways of scoring, you’ve got to let him have that freedom."
Carr receives friendly advice from his uncle, Donnie, a former Roman Catholic and La Salle University standout who ranks fifth on the La Salle University career scoring list with 2,067 points.
Donnie, of 20th and Latona streets, also played professionally overseas. The seasoned athlete — who is also the uncle of Southern senior guard Keith Grimes — makes regular appearances at Southern games with Kashief’s parents and grandfather.
Over the years, Uncle Donnie has passed on some valuable tips, most notably the importance of being a team player, Kashief said.
"He told me not to ever look down at my teammates and to go to school," he said.
Playing team basketball has led the first-place Rams — who face Audenried at home today — to an undefeated record. Carr might lead the team in scoring, but he is just one of several key athletes. Senior forward Shawn Saab, who has more than 1,000 career points, is averaging 17.5 points per game, while senior point guard Antoine "Doo Dirty" Brown is posting 12.3 points per game. Both players are drawing Division I interest, but could end up taking the junior college route.
Carr, who is also collecting recruitment letters, including a recent inquiry from Temple, credits much of his success to extra practice after school and during the off-season. The athlete’s participation in the Positive Image basketball program gave him a chance to compete in national tournaments. Donnie Carr is an alumni of the program, along with Southwest Philly native Malik Rose, who currently plays for the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.
Before he starts dreaming of playing pro, Kashief Carr knows he has to focus on improving his game.
"When I practice outside of school, I do a lot on my own," he said.
That includes shooting, dribbling and other basics. Carr’s extra effort is paying huge dividends for Southern, as Anderson said the player is one of the team’s strongest rebounders.
"If we had a track team, he would probably be All-Public in the triple jump and high jump," the coach said. "He is an excellent athlete, period."
Southern is one of four remaining undefeated Public League squads — along with defending champ Bartram, Simon Gratz and Franklin Learning Center.
This season is particularly important to the Rams after last year’s disappointing end. Southern had been in first place with a postseason berth when the coach discovered he had an ineligible player on the roster. As a result, the Rams forfeited all but one of their victories, along with their spot in the Public League playoffs.
"We probably would’ve went for [the title] last year," said Carr, whose favorite NBA player is Kobe Bryant. "We are just trying to think about this year and winning a championship."
The Rams are hoping to win their first title since 1987, when they defeated West Philadelphia. Southern has six more league games left on its schedule, and Anderson will need players on whom he can depend.
"Sometimes you get in a game where you need a kid who is ready to step up and [take the game-winning shot] in crunch time," the coach said.
Whenever that time comes, Carr will be ready to take that shot.
