Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008 - (Page 14)

basketball • women’s rowing SPORTS basketball IN FULL BLOOM Perform a quick Google search of the name “Zahir,” and you’ll ﬁnd that the name means “blossoming” or “ﬂourishing.” Thanks to his 6' 7" frame and legs That certainly applies to Zahir Carrington, who is blossoming into a true leader on and off with as much bounce as a B-52’s Lehigh’s campus. The 6-foot-7 Philadelphia nasong (a truly rare combo in the Pative, a star power forward on Lehigh’s basketball triot League), Carrington has blosteam, is majoring in sociology and anthropolsomed into one of the league’s ogy. Even though his day planner is jammed bebrightest young stars—more than tween a varsity sport and a full course load, doubling his scoring average beCarrington always ﬁnds time to help others. tween his freshman and sopho“My parents (Talada and Robert Carrington) more years from 5.4 points per taught me that if you’re blessed with something, game in 2006-07 to 12.5 points then you should help other people,” Carringper game in 2007-08. ton says. “Because we were so young last In addition to taking part in Lehigh’s season, it was really important that C.O.A.C.H. (Community Outreach by Athletes somebody stepped up, and Zahir who Care about Helping) program, Carrington did,” says Lehigh coach Brett Reed. mentors middle school to high school-aged boys “We provided him with the ball in in Allentown’s “Boys to Manhood” program. places where we thought he could In his spare time, Carrington mentors middle school and high school “The boys in this program either have a score. He really welcomed the opboys in Allentown. criminal record or are not portunity to be featured more in our offense and for our program, not only by example but as a doing well in school, so I really capitalized on it.” vocal leader as well.” talk to them about the imCarrington isn’t resting on In Carrington and Marquis Hall (14.1 ppg), portance of education and his laurels. Instead, he worked a junior guard whose hoops’ toolbox includes a try to be a positive male tirelessly this summer to make net-snapping jumper and a cat-quick ﬁrst step, role model for them,” Carhis low-post moves as polished rington says. “I think the the sophomore and junior-laden Mountain as those of a YMCA lunchtime program works because Hawks have two legitimate ﬁrst-team all-league I’m someone that they can lifer and to extend the range on candidates and therefore might be the Patriot relate to. I’m someone who his jump shot out to 15 feet. League’s best bet to unseat defending champ dresses like them, listens to “We’re hoping that Zahir’s American University. the same music, and I growth and development con“American University will be a formidable come from a similar innertinues across the board—inforce for this year, but we’re an emerging team,” city background as they creasing his range so that he’s a Reed says. “We return a lot of key players from do, so I can understand legitimate scoring threat from last season. We have a group of young men who their family situation and the high post on in, improving are focused, who really want to improve, want Carrington averaged 12.5 points per the everyday pressures they game last year. his rebounding numbers to the to achieve excellence. Zahir is a perfect example have to deal with.” point that he can offset some of of that. He wants to get the most he can out Earlier this year, Carrington was recognized the loss of Bryan White, and then ﬁnally probof his Lehigh experience.” for his community service work as a recipient ably improving his defense without fouling,” Carrington agrees: “Lehigh is a terriﬁc place. of Lehigh’s Contribution to Student Life Award. Reed says. “Zahir is very bright, he’s very anaYou not only get a great education at Lehigh, Carrington is also excelling in the classroom and lytical, and it’s very important to him to imyou have the opportunity to really blossom plans to attend law school after graduation. prove as a player. He’s really emerged as a leader while you’re here.”—Bill Doherty 14 lehigh alumni bulletin PHOTO BY SPECIALTY PHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTO BY DOUGLAS BENEDICT

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008

Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008 Contents From the President's Desk Mailbox On Campus Research Arts & Culture Sports Cover Story: The Dalai Lama at Lehigh Heart of a Champion Around the World in 80 Years Fighting for Children wth Autism Keepers of the Flame From the Publisher's Desk Alumni News The Last Word

Alumni Bulletin - Fall 2008

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