CARL ENGLISH WAS HONOURED SUNDAY

Carl English Number 23 is raised to the rafters at Mile One Sunday as part of a ceremony to honour the basketball legend. ( JOE CHASE PHOTO)

Carl English Wife and children watch as his number banner is raised to the rafters      ( JOE CHASE PHOTO)

St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen presents English with a gift from the City                            ( JOE CHASE PHOTO)

Carl English presented with his uniform #23 he wore with the St. John’s Edge                 ( JOE CHASE PHOTO)                 

5475 fans showed up at Mile One Sunday to show their appreciation to Carl English who had his jersey retired at a ceremony at half time in a game between the St. John’s Edge and the Island Storm. English was a founding member of the St. John’s Edge and had a wide basketball career from the College level in the United States to Europe and with Canada’s Basketball team. It was a chance for the fans to say thank you to this tremendous basketball player and native of Patrick’s -Angels Cove. He also was a fan favourite when he played with the St. John’s Edge.  English thanked the fans and several times in his thank he became very emotional thanking everyone for a great career.

In Patrick’s Cove-Angels Cove, English practiced basketball on a makeshift hoop built by his uncle beside Route 100, a two-lane highway in front of their house.

He often played with his brothers when they visited. In eighth grade, English was the starting point guard for Fatima Academy in the nearby town of St. Bride’s, averaging 50 points per game. He was named team most valuable player (MVP) and was also a member of the varsity cross country team.

 At age 16, English joined the provincial basketball team at the 1997 Canada Summer Games, where he was a starter despite being younger than most of his opponents.

For his senior year, English transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario, a program that had produced NCAA Division I players. 

He started living with his cousin Howie. After a labor dispute suspended the school’s basketball program for a year, English considered returning home. However, he remained after joining a Canadian under-18 team that competed across the United States. His success with the team drew attention from top college programs, including Georgetown, Michigan, and Syracuse.