Dion Carson

The R-S Central Boys’ basketball program has had plenty

of high-profile scorers over the years, but no one was more adept

at putting the ball in the basket than Dion Carson. He tops the R-S

Central all-time scoring list, with 1,873 points, passing fellow RCSHOF

member Vincent Hamilton. After graduating from R-S Central in 1992,

Carson led Spartanburg Methodist to the 1995 Jr. College National

Championship game before finishing his career at UCONN under

legendary coach Jim Calhoun.

Dion Carson was the Hilltoppers’ version of an Iron Man. During his

prep career at R-S from 1988-1992, he played in 108 straight games,

never missing a single contest. Carson was inserted into the starting

lineup seven games into his freshman season and never looked

back. He garnered Most Improved Player honors after that freshman

campaign and only improved as time progressed.

As a sophomore, Carson was named as tournament MVP at the

prestigious Freedom Christmas Tournament and, by season’s end,

he had helped the Hilltoppers to a No.3 State ranking, while picking

up team defensive MVP honors along the way. While Carson led the Hilltoppers to

a Top-5 State ranking as a junior,

earning team MVP accolades, he

really came into his own during his

senior season of 1991-92. During

that season, Carson averaged

a jaw-dropping 27 points and

23 rebounds and was named

Conference Player of the Year and

team MVP. He led the Hilltoppers

in points, rebounds, steals, and

blocked shots. As a result of his

exploits, Carson was nominated for

the 1992 McDonald’s All-American team, alongside future NBA

star Jason Kidd and others.

Carson finished his R-S

Central career as the only

player to score over 1,000

points (1,873) and pull down

over 1,000 rebounds (1,044).

After graduating from R-S,

Carson enrolled at the

Laurinburg Institute for a

year of post-graduate work before joining the Spartanburg Methodist

basketball team. In 1995, Carson was a vital member of the Pioneer

squad that posted a 34-2 record and made it all the way to the JUCO

National Championship game in Hutchinson, Kansas. He averaged

12 points, six rebounds, and led the team with four steals per game

that year.

In the Fall of 1995, Carson enrolled at UCONN. During a season

preview with the Hartford Courant, Huskies’ coach Jim Calhoun said

of Carson, “He has been really solid. He’s different from most JUCO

kids. There was no academic reason for him to go to junior college.

The reason he went was to be seen and play at this level.”

During two seasons with UCONN, playing behind future NBA All-

Star Ray Allen, Carson saw action in 60 games, averaging around 10

minutes per contest. He helped the Huskies reach the Sweet 16 in

1996 and to a 3rd place finish at the NIT in 1997.

Carson had his Hilltoppers’ #24 jersey retired on December 12, 2003

and he was named one of Rutherford County’s 50 Greatest basketball

players in 2007. He currently lives in Bristol, Connecticut, where he

works for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.