Former Roman Catholic and La Salle University standout Donnie Carr will be inducted into the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame Jan. 18 at a luncheon at the Palestra, 215 S. 33rd St. Carr, formerly of 20th and Latona streets, also will be honored during halftime at the St. Joe’s/Penn game the next day in the same arena.
Carr graduated in 2000 as the Explorers’ fourth all-time leading scorer with 2,067 points, a record that since has been passed by fellow South Philadelphian Rasual Butler, now with the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets.
Carr earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year honors while a freshman and was named First Team All-Big 5 in each of his four seasons at La Salle. Carr is the school’s all-time leader in three-point field goals with 308.
James "Booney" Salters (Penn), Rap Curry (St. Joe’s) and Claudrena Harold (Temple) also are in this year’s induction class.
La Salle senior Carlene Hightower closed out 2007 with Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week honors. The athlete from 33rd and Reed streets tallied 28 points in a 75-70 overtime victory over Sacred Heart, with six points coming in the OT. It marks the sixth time this season Hightower has tallied 20 points or more. She leads the Explorers in points per game (18.3), rebounds per game (6.9) and steals (25).
Also at La Salle, Prep Charter grad Rodney Green has started all 11 games for the Explorers’ men’s basketball team and is averaging 24.3 minutes a night. The sophomore’s 12 points per game ranks second-best behind teammate Darnell Harris.
As a freshman, Green was a member of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie squad.
