1-ON-1 CONVERSATION: Goldsboro grad Myron Carmon

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on August 14, 2016 1:45 AM

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From 2012 - 2016, Goldsboro High School's Myron Carmon put together one of the most electrifying prep careers in recent Wayne County history. The high-flying guard filed over 1,000 career points, and often wowed onlookers with a flair for all things dramatic.

Next stop? Olney Junior College in Olney, Illinois.

The News-Argus recently conducted a short Q&A session with Carmon, who left Goldsboro last Thursday for middle America and life as a collegiate basketball player.

Q: You played four seasons of varsity basketball, and increased your productivity each year. Can you describe the progression?

A: My freshman year, I was kind of scared... Coach Russell made me play varsity. He said, "No JV, or I'm not playing ball at all." Sophomore year, he stayed on me pretty hard, so that got me a lot tougher mentally... then junior year, I got way better -- my focus was better, my leadership got way better. My senior year, I got stronger, faster, quicker... more athletic. And just led the team.

Q: What was your most substantial weakness as a freshman, and how did you work to make it a strength?

A: Shooting. I wasn't shooting deep. I always shot mid-range... but as the years went on, I kept working on my shot, kept working out with Coach Russell and got better... he made me do a lot of pull-ups and push ups.

Q: You're a 1,000 point scorer at GHS, played in high-pressure situations, and helped end Kinston High's reign as state champions. Was there one basket along the way that stands out above the rest?

A: That's tough... I'm going to say the Kinston game, came off the pick and roll, hit the big three at home... got the and-one.

Q: Let's talk about school options... everyone knows it's Olney, but there were a lot of institutions in play for a long time. Who was on your list?

A: Fayetteville State, Coastal Carolina, Winston-Salem State, Longwood University... Mount Olive, Barton, and ECU.

Q: Did your coach, Russell Stephens, give you any advice during the recruiting process?

A: Yeah, he told me to not expect anything to just be handed to me... go there and compete just like everyone else has to compete. Just stay focused, stay on my books and everything should be fine.

Q: What did he tell you about learning to play on the collegiate level?

A: Just a mental thing, and physical... people will get in your head all the time... JuCo is one of the hardest, because you play against way older guys, so you just have to stay focused.

Q: What makes Olney feel like the right call?

A: Their graduation rate... as a student-athlete, it's good -- they have a 95 percent graduation rate, and they send us off to good schools after doing one or two years.

Q: What has their staff told you about where they think you are as a player and where they can take you in two years?

A: They can take me to be a great player, great person on and off the court... great leadership. Just get me to the school that I want to go to.

Q: Where might that be?

A: Whoever is recruiting me after that two years... Long as it makes me happy, I'll make the right choice.

Q: Let's backtrack a bit and talk travel ball... you played for the Kinston Ballers and Flight 22 Elite, and really enjoyed success. But as a system, some people think it's evil. What are your thoughts?

A: I think it's great... it gives a lot of kids the chance to play against people from all over, like the Under Armour tournament we went to... we played against Canada Elite -- Thon Maker's team (the 10th overall pick in this summer's NBA Draft), we played against One Nation, Josh Jackson's team (University of Kansas signee), so yeah... it's a lot of competition out there in AAU ball.

Q: Did you learn or see in someone else's game during travel ball that you've tried to make your own, or would help you on the next level?

A: Creating more space, more ways to handle the rock... defensive-wise, I've still got to work on my defense. I'll be on that a lot, and my speed. I've still got to get a lot faster.

Q: What have you dedicated yourself to in summer workouts in order to hit the ground running at Olney?

A: Conditioning... just doing pickup games at the Y, or at the center... running on the treadmill, or the track. Run until you can't run no more.

Q: What will you miss about this place? About your basketball life in Goldsboro?

A: I know I'll still have my supporters, but I'm going to miss it, like, face to face... being there at the games and stuff, because I'll barely have supporters in Illinois -- so I'm going to miss that a lot. As far as basketball, being able to play with my friends and being able to hang out after games.

Q: At the Wayne County All-Star Classic in May, you were thinking about de-committing from Olney. Why?

A: It's far from home. Mom was worried.

Q: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

A: Doing something positive. Coming back to the community and doing something for the kids... maybe, everybody wishes they could go to the NBA or play overseas ball.

Q: I notice you've got some ink now (a tattoo on his left arm)... take me through that.

A: Basketball, you know, I love basketball (points to design)... Believe in the game, got faith in the game, and No. 3 -- my number, lucky number. My dad had that number when he was in high school (also at GHS).

Q: Looking back on your coaches, who stood out in terms of your development as a player and person?

A: Start with Coach Faison, when I was real little coming up... playing with the Blazers, he helped me a lot. I still keep in contact with him. Coach K, he coached for Team Wall... he helped me out a lot with recruiting, and Jason Jones, the ESPN recruiter -- he helped me out a lot... Coach Russell, Coach EB, my Mom and my Dad.

Q: Last item of business -- what do you say to the folks who knock your game, or your ability to play on the collegiate level because of your size?

A: Size don't mean nothing... I mean, you have Allen Iverson and Nate Robinson. Size don't mean nothing, you just got to have heart.