Derrick Webb, Staff Writer
WHEELERSBURG — There were few better rim protectors in Southern Ohio last season than Wheelersburg’s Carter McCorkle.
McCorkle, now a 6-foot-4 senior, made his name known by bullying his opponents in the paint and rebounding the basketball with the best of them. That’s also the reason he’ll be playing at the next level.
On Aug. 21, McCorkle announced his commitment to Marietta College, where he says he’ll be able to grow as a player, and as a person.
“Marietta is the best fit for me because it’s the ideal place to continue my work on both my academic and athletic goals,” McCorkle said. “The campus feels like home. I fell in love with every possible aspect.”
With McCorkle’s help last winter, the Pirates finished 21-3 overall and 15-1 in the SOC II. The team’s season ended with a 54-51 loss to Chesapeake in a Division III district semifinal.
He now has one year left to help the Pirates get back to the team they were in 2018-19, a regional finalist that finished 26-1. At Wheelersburg, that’s the expectation.
And he’ll have some help along the way.
“My family is always very supportive of everything I do and they’ve given me great guidance throughout this process. I’m so thankful for them,” McCorkle said. “I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, though. The teammates who haven’t been the most friendly to me and the teammates that were always supportive, they’re all a big part of my success.”
McCorkle continued to rave about his teammates and what they’ve done for him as an individual. The “family” atmosphere he describes is why ‘Burh has success year in and year out.
“We treat each other like a family. We hold each other accountable and can push each other to the edge at times while loving one another at times,” McCorkle said. “I can’t thank my coaches enough for the opportunities and challenges they’ve given me.”
When McCorkle gets to Marietta, he’ll be competing for a team that finished 21-7 last season. The Pioneers went 14-4 in Ohio Athletic Conference action and ended their year with an 89-73 loss to The College of New Jersey in the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing, improving my athletic skill-set, and building my overall character,” McCorkle said. “Becoming a college athlete is the beginning of a journey that makes you a winner on and off the court.”