By Five Boro Sports
Mark McCarroll’s future destination is still uncertain. The former Pittsburgh Panther and Christ the King forward has yet to sign with a team for the upcoming season, but is expecting to soon.
“The market is crazy right now,” he said.
McCarroll helped the Panthers to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2003. He averaged 5.5 points per game and 2.8 rebounds while playing 16 minutes per contest as a junior and has bounced around the professional ranks.
Since graduating in 2005, he spent a season with the Brooklyn Kings of the USBL before heading overseas to play with Porvoon Tarmo in Finland. There, the 6-foot-10 McCarroll averaged 18.6 and 12.2 rebounds per game in his first season away from the U.S. He was named the Eurobasket.com Finish center of the year and to the leagues’ All-First team. He has also spent time with Plannja of Sweden, where he played with former Purdue guard Brandon McKnight, and also in the Philippines.
“I’ve been to nice places,” McCarroll said.
For good reason. He is a long, athletic rebounder who finishes well around the rim. McCarroll is not afraid to do the dirty work in the paint, either. The Queens native is also versatile enough to step out on the perimeter. He can defend out there, take people off the dribble and knock down the occasional three-pointer as well.
“I’m a hustle player, rebounder,” McCarroll said. “I dunk a lot. I am an energy kind of player.”
He continues to showcase his talents on the blacktops of the city in the summer, playing in the streetball circuit. It’s something he has done the last three years. He is playing at Nike Pro City, the Tri State Classic, Dyckman and The Cage at West 4th.
“Everyone tries to get better at everything they do [on the court],” McCarroll said when asked what he is looking to improve on. “So you shore up some things.”
All that’s left is finding the best fit and signing with a team for the upcoming season. For now, all McCarroll cares about is impressing wherever he plays, on the blacktop or hardwood.
“I just want to finally get situated,” he said “You just have to keep playing well everywhere you go and eventually you strike.”
