NORTH ROBINSON — Carter Valentine grew up in a household where athletics were important. His father, Matt, was a basketball coach and his mother, Jaime, was a volleyball coach.
Carter got the athletic gene and grew to be 6-foot-6, ideal for a high school basketball player.
Valentine used the combination to his advantage, culminating in his signing a full-ride basketball scholarship to play at Ashland University beginning next season.
“I’m extremely blessed. I thank God, my family, my coaches, teachers, everyone who has helped me get here,” Valentine said. “I have a great ability. All I can do is work at it and good things will happen.”
Though he was pursued by Findlay, Malone and other Division II schools, Valentine was drawn to Ashland, with proximity being only part of the equation.
“Ashland is always a school I’ve wanted to go to,” Valentine said. “Opportunity came, just take it. Coaches build a great relationship with the players. When I went to visit, players were real cool. The family around it is something I want to be part of.”
Colonel Crawford coach David Sheldon said that throughout the recruiting process, Valentine kept going back to Ashland.
“I think Ashland is a great fit for him,” Sheldon said. “Coach (John) Ellenwood and (assistant) Coach (Brook) Turson really fell in love with him. They have a great program over there. You saw that last week. They beat Valparaiso, a Division I, in an exhibition. This is big time basketball.”
Valentine was named Northern 10 Athletic Conference Player of the Year as a junior last year and made second-team all-Ohio. Both he and Sheldon are looking for more big things in his senior year.
Coming to Colonel Crawford as a sophomore has aided in his growth as a player, according to the player himself.
“It’s been great. I don’t think this would have happened if I wouldn’t have come,” Valentine said. “Coach Sheldon has helped me so much. I can’t thank him enough.”
“Carter’s very skilled and very blessed,” Sheldon said. “He’s 6-6, he can shoot it, he can put it on the floor. I think you see all the accomplishments he got as a junior. He had a heck of a circuit on AAU with Coach (Ben) Lash as well.”
Even so, Sheldon sees work ahead for his protégé to be successful at the next level.
“It’s going to be a big jump,” Sheldon said. “It’s a totally different jump than high school basketball. But I know he’s up for that. He’s excited.”
Sheldon noted that Valentine is a rarity in this area. In his 20 years of coaching — 16 as head coach at Colonel Crawford — this is his first player to receive a full-ride scholarship.
“I’m happy for Carter and his family,” Sheldon said. “It’s a blessing anytime get a chance to play basketball and get some of your college paid for on top of it.”
Valentine plans to major in education and hasn’t ruled out becoming a coach himself someday. It’s a family tradition.