Towson forward Jonathan Pease still remembers that fateful T-Ball game about 15 years ago when he broke the eye socket of UNC-Wilmington guard T.J. Carter.
“I was a first baseman and he was a short stop and I threw the ball and it hit him in the face,” Pease reminisced. “[T.J.] is one of the first people I can remember in my life and he?s always been a big part of my life growing up. I was always at his house or he was at mine.”
The two fifth-year seniors and former teammates at Chopticon High School in Morganza still talk regularly, as do their parents. But they will have plenty of time to get reacquainted tonight at 7 at Trask Coliseum in Wilmington, N.C. when the Tigers (6-9, 2-3 Colonial Athletic Association) visit the Seahawks (9-8, 2-3).
“We really had good high school careers,” Carter said. “Our junior year we were 24-1 and took a tough loss in the state semifinals to Douglass, and my senior year, we were 23-2 and lost the [3A] state championship game to Friendly.”
And that success brought college scouts to watch the pair play at the St. Mary?s County school.
“Me and him were a package deal in high school,” Pease said. “We knew where each other was at the whole time and we made a name for each other at the same time.”
They discussed the possibility of playing together in college, but Pease committed to Towson early, and Carter settled on UNC-Wilmington after his senior season.
“I was a little upset at first,” Pease said. “But when I found out we were in the same conference and seeing each other [at least once a year], I felt a little bit better.”
The careers of both players, however, have been hindered by injury. Pease battled through a severe ankle sprain his freshman year and had multiple surgeries to his right knee two years ago which required him to take a medical redshirt for the 2005-06 season. That year, Carter was named Most Valuable Player of the 2006 CAA Tournament when he led the Seahawks to a conference title and berth in the NCAA Tournament, where his team lost in the first round.
But Carter suffered a sports hernia last year, causing him to miss the season.
“We should both be out in the real world,” Pease said. “Both of us are now fifth-year seniors and ready for the next step.”
Their final season has been successful so far. Carter leads UNC-Wilmington in scoring (16.6) and assists (4.2) per game. Pease has started the past five games, and averages 9.5 points and is second on the team with 5.2 rebounds per game.
Though neither player wants to give the other extra incentive for tonight?s game, Pease, who is 2-2 against Carter?s Seahawks, acknowledged what happens tonight will be discussed long after their playing days are over.
“I try to keep quiet because we don?t have a good record against Wilmington,” Pease said. “But a few years from now down the road there will be bragging rights involved.”
