Photography by Steve Buchanan
Indian Creek’s Benny Carter chose a path few high school standout athletes are following these days—playing three sports. Even though he’s a lacrosse standout, he didn’t want to give up his other sports. The senior, however, did briefly consider giving up basketball after he had signed a National Letter of Intent in mid-November to play lacrosse at St. Bonaventure University in New York, where he will attend the school on an athletic and academic scholarship.
“I thought about not playing basketball, but I don’t think I could have really given it up,” Carter explains. “I always like to be playing sports, to have a team to play on with friends, and to be active. I also like being able to play on the team for four years. Plus, basketball helps me stay in shape for lacrosse.”
It’s understandable why Carter doesn’t want to give up either soccer or basketball—he’s been highly successful in those sports as well.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Carter ranked among the lacrosse team’s leaders in goals and assists the past two seasons and earned Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference honors in soccer. He led that team in scoring twice. Carter also started on the basketball team at forward as a junior. He maintains a 3.94 grade-point average while doing all three sports.
“He will outwork just about anybody,” Indian Creek Athletic Director Jason Werner says. “He has taken on leadership roles on teams that are not his primary sport. He never misses a beat in basketball or soccer because he is a super competitor.”
With his high school lacrosse career ending in May, the 18-year-old Carter will shift his focus to preparing to play at St. Bonaventure. He’s training like never before, following a workout packet the school’s coaching staff sent him.
“College will be a whole other level,” Carter says of St. Bonaventure. “It’s working out two hours a day, lifting, running, and playing lacrosse.”
Carter chose St. Bonaventure after he strongly considered Bucknell University, Lafayette College, and Franklin & Marshall College. “They really made me the best offer,” says Carter, who is interested in majoring in finance. “And I like the coaching staff a lot.”
St. Bonaventure coach Randy Means thinks Carter can make a difference as a rookie. “He absolutely has the capability to do that,” Means says. “He can play everywhere. He can handle the ball, create his own shot, has great vision, and plays great defense. He can play on a man-down and man-up unit. Heck, if we wanted to put him in the net, he could probably do that, too.”
Carter devoted nine years to playing club lacrosse for the Annapolis Hawks, and that’s where he blossomed as a player. “Playing against some of the best teams from across the country for my entire career really helped,” Carter explains.
He also credits his development to his older brother Sammy, who now competes for Rhodes College in Tennessee.
“I would use that to my advantage because I would play with him and his friends,” Carter says. At Indian Creek, the younger Carter dominated. He racked up 52 goals, 28 assists, and 57 ground balls as a junior after totaling 67 points as a sophomore. Carter earned First-Team MIAA honors and Second-Team All-County both years.
“He was our best offensive player,” Indian Creek Boys Lacrosse Coach Brian Silcott says. “He just has a lot of skill, is very athletic, and a good-sized player. His biggest asset is that he has a constant motor and plays hard all the time.”
Do you have a local athlete to nominate? Send What's Up? an email to editor@whatsupmag.com.
