SEQUIM — Gabe Carter hoped Sequim’s 2A state playoff games wouldn’t be the last time he would represent his school on a basketball court.
“Playing in college has been a dream for a long time,” Carter said after the Wolves’ opening-round loss to Renton at the Yakima SunDome.
“So, to get the opportunity to even come off the bench or sit on the bench or be a practice player or a starter, whatever it may be, I’d just be happy to be there.”
That dream will be realized next year when Carter suits up for Whitworth, an NCAA Division III school in Spokane.
“It still really hasn’t hit me yet,” Carter said Saturday.
“Being in the midst of my senior project and portfolio and getting ready for graduation and everything, I don’t think that it will really hit me for a while.
“But when I think about where I will be in a few months and what I will be doing, it fills me with excitement and motivation to work hard to get opportunities at Whitworth next year.”
The Whitworth Pirates are coming off an appearance in the Division III Sweet 16 and have claimed four consecutive Northwest Conference titles.
They have a 106-13 win-loss record over the past four seasons.
Carter, Sequim’s all-time career leader in rebounds and assists, is familiar with Whitworth and its basketball program.
Older sister at Whitworth
His sister currently attends Whitworth, and he has been to several basketball camps there.
Carter said that Jon Eekhoff, a teacher at Sequim who played basketball at Whitworth, got the ball rolling on his recruitment.
Eekhoof contacted his old coach about Carter, and word was passed on to the current staff.
Prior to this past basketball season, Whitworth head coach Matt Logie and assistant coach Damion Jablonski asked Carter to fly to Spokane for the Pirates’ combine.
“I did, spur of the moment, and ended up really playing well there, and really liking both of the coaches and their personal coaching styles,” Carter said.
“Once my season ended, I really sat down with my friends and family and thought about the best fit for me athletically and academically, and in the end, Whitworth was that choice.”
The Pirates are graduating three seniors, including two starters, from this season’s team.
Among those moving on is Wade Gebbers, who was named All-West Region First Team by D3Hoops.com and All-West Region Second Team by the National Basketball Coaches Association of America.
“Coach Logie and Jablonski both told me how excited they are to have me there,” Carter said.
“There is a great amount of opportunity at Whitworth, in many different ways, and I’m just excited to have a chance to be there.”
The 6-foot-4 Carter hasn’t decided what he will study while at Whitworth. He did say he is considering majoring in education and becoming a high school teacher.
“It would be nice if I could come back to Sequim and teach here, so I could give back to the community who has given so much to me,” he said.
“But, since it’s so far away, that’s just an idea. I won’t really know until I actually sit down in some colleges classes and see what my interests are.”
Johnson an All-Star
PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend junior point guard Jewel Johnson has been chosen to play in the 17th annual Washington/North Idaho All-State girls basketball game.
The game will be played at the HUB Sports Center near Spokane on June 22.
Johnson averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals last season and earned All-Olympic League First Team honors.
