Carlton Aaron
Carlton Aaron (born November 3, 1979) is an American former professional basketball player who played in England, Ireland and minor leagues within the United States.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 3, 1979 The Bronx, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 322 lb (146 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | The Winchendon School (Winchendon, Massachusetts) |
| College | Temple (2000–2001) UMKC (2002–2005) |
| NBA draft | 2005 / Undrafted |
| Playing career | 2005–2010 |
| Position | Center |
| Career history | |
| 2005 | Kansas City Steers |
| 2005–2006 | Plymouth Raiders |
| 2006 | Holland Blast |
| 2006 | Grand Rapids Flight |
| 2006–2007 | Plymouth Raiders |
| 2007 | Battle Creek Knights |
| 2007 | Guildford Heat |
| 2009–2010 | Shamrock Rovers Hoops |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
High school and college career
Born in The Bronx, Aaron attended high school at both South Bronx High in New York City and Atlantic Shores High in Virginia Beach before moving to Winchendon, Massachusetts in 1999 to attend The Winchendon School for his senior year.[1][2]
After managing just eight games for the Temple Owls in 2000–01,[3] Aaron transferred to UMKC and subsequently sat out the 2001–02 season due to NCAA transfer regulations. In three seasons for UMKC, he averaged 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in 86 career games.[4]
Professional career
After graduating from UMKC, Aaron joined the Kansas City Steers of the NABL. He then moved to Europe, and after a trial run with the Cuxhaven BasCats of Germany, he signed with the Plymouth Raiders for the 2005–06 season. Following the BBL season, he returned to the United States and played for the Holland Blast (IBL) and the Grand Rapids Flight of the International Basketball League.[5]
His rookie season with the Raiders was dogged by a recurring ankle injury, but Aaron returned for the following season slimmer and fully fit, after declining an offer from an undisclosed European team. His game rapidly improved and within a month of his sophomore season, Aaron received the recognition he deserved. Aaron claimed the Player of the Month award for November 2006, after leading the Raiders on a six-game winning streak, and thus reaching the summit of the league table for the first time in their history. With a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds, Aaron was awarded the MVP for Raiders' 74-65 win over Newcastle Eagles in the BBL Trophy Final on March 4, 2007. It was the first time the Raiders had won a top-flight title in their history, made all the more sweeter as Newcastle, the favourites for the clash, were playing with home court advantage. The previous week, the Raiders, playing without an injured Aaron, had lost on the road to Eagles 99-75, thus outlining Aaron's importance to the starting five.
Aaron finished the BBL regular season as he league's top rebounder, averaging 12.4 boards per game, and was voted into the league's All-Star First Team, finishing fourth in the overall vote. In May 2007, following Raiders' quarter-final exit from the BBL Playoffs, Aaron returned to the United States where he signed a two-month contract with the Battle Creek Knights of the International Basketball League.
On July 24, 2007, Aaron signed with the Guildford Heat for the 2007–08 season.[6] Aaron's competitive debut in a Heat vest ironically came on a road trip against his former club the Raiders, in the first of a two-game series in the inaugural BBL Cup Winners' Cup. Upon entering his former home arena, he was greeted by a mixed reaction of applause and jeers from a partisan crowd at the Plymouth Pavilions.
Despite reduced minutes compared to previous seasons, Aaron still posted some consistent numbers domestically in the BBL, including 12.4 points per game (and a lowly 6.2 rebounds by his standards), the dominating center could not adapt to the European game and struggled in each of his appearances in the ULEB Cup. In 39:10 minutes of ULEB play, Aaron mustered only 4 points, including the franchise's first ever 2 points in European competition, a lay-up in the 84-68 away loss to KK Bosna. On November 19, 2007, he parted ways with Guilford.
In 2009, Aaron signed with the Shamrock Rovers Hoops for the 2009–10 Superleague season. In 16 games for the Rovers, he averaged a massive 32.8 points and 20.4 rebounds per game.
References
- "Ncaa: Owls Basketball Recruit Can Play". Philly.com. September 29, 2000.
- Tom Robinson (January 24, 1999). "Once-safe Haven Crumbles for Atlantic Shores Star". The Virginian-Pilot. HighBeam Research. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
- Carlton Aaron – FOX Sports
- Carlton Aaron Stats
- Lee Lamberts. "Blast set for home stretch of first season" (PDF). International Basketball League. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- "Guildford Heat add big man Carlton Aaron". Eurocup Basketball. July 24, 2007.