The Derrick Caracter Saga has taken another sad turn.
Louisville coach Rick Pitino says that the 6-foot-8 Caracter, a native of Fanwood, N.J., is academically ineligible to return to Louisville and that his career there is over.
“He just has too many issues to overcome, academically and otherwise, to be a Louisville Cardinal,” Pitino told the Louisville Courier Journal. “The best thing for him would be to go to a different place.”
Pitino said Caracter turned down an invitation to next week’s prestigious NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, Fla.
“I was hoping he would try the pros,” the coach told the newspaper. “That’s all he talked about all year. I told him to go to Orlando. I don’t know why he wouldn’t go there. It’s crazy.”
Caracter could have tested himself in the draft camp and maintained his eligibility, provided he paid his own travel expenses, the newspaper reported.
Caracter averaged 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds last season, playing just five minutes in Louisville’s 83-73 loss to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament East Regional final.
In other news related to Louisville, onetime Cards commit Melquan Bolding chose Duquesne over St. John’s, Cincinnati and Temple. He initially committed to Louisville but never signed due to academic reasons.
Bolding, a 6-4, 180 pound SG originally from White Plains, spent last season at Notre Dame Prep (Mass.), where he averaged 18 points and seven rebounds.
“I’m extremely proud and excited to have Melquan as part of our program,” said Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said. “Obviously he’s a very high-profile player who is very highly regarded. He an athletic, high-energy guy who is a great scorer. He’s a perfect fit for our style of play. Plus, he’s a really good kid who has great family support. I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to coach him.”
Bolding, who was recruited by a number of Big East schools before making a decision to verbally commit to Louisville prior to enrolling at Notre Dame Prep, averaged 21.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game as a junior in helping Archbishop Stepinac to a 17-8 record in CHSAA Class A in 2006-07. He averaged 25 points and 13 rebounds per game and shot 60 percent from the floor as a sophomore in helping Archbishop Stepinac to a 15-11 record (10-5 in conference play), an improvement over a 7-18 season in 2004-05.
