Casey Carroll Youngstown Christian boys

The senior — do we call him a post player or a wing? — because despite being 6-foot-7 he was equally difficult to defend on the block or facing the basket.

Adding to opponents’ worries was Carroll’s strength. He could post up a taller defender and outwork his opponent for a layup or dunk.

Put someone quicker on defense? That was OK, too, because Carroll had a devastating jump shot and great range from 15 feet.

He played for three seasons at Canfield, then opted to join his father, former University of Kansas standout Dolph Carroll, for his senior year at Youngstown Christian.

The move paid off handsomely. Casey Carroll led the Eagles to a 19-1 record despite playing a difficult schedule that included several Division I and Division II schools.

Youngstown Christian went into the Division IV district tournament as the No. 2 seed, and advanced to the championship game.

Carroll’s acumen on the court did not go unnoticed. He was named Northeast Ohio Inland District Player of the Year, and was selected first team All-Ohio.

“The biggest adjustment was going to a new school and meeting new people,” he said of the move from Canfield.

“Playing for my dad, that was a fun experience,” added Carroll. “He’s been coaching for 25 years and I’ve always watched how he did things and I just wanted to be a part of it.”

Like most coaches’ sons, Casey got a little “extra” attention from his dad, not always positive. But he said the season was special because they were together.

“We bonded together more. We were closer at home and on the court. It was fun.”

Next up is deciding on a college. Carroll’s mind isn’t made up yet — he’s getting offers from schools at all levels — but he’d like to pursue a degree in business marketing.