Concord, NC – Hidden in the woods of Concord,NC on top of a hill, sits Carolina International School. A Kindergarten through 12th grade charter school located a few miles northwest of Concord Mills Mall and just down the street from traditional basketball power Cannon School. The Comets are hoping to become a staple on the Charlotte area basketball scene for years to come.
In 2018, Head Coach Derix Bell accepted the challenge of putting together a budding program that until this season, did not have a gym to call its own. The team was forced to use the facilities of a nearby church and summer workouts were non-existent.
“We are a young team and we did alot of conditioning this summer to get our bodies ready for the varsity level,” said Bell. “They really understood that it’s a process you must go through and they accepted that challenge.” The hard work appears to have paid off in the early goings of the 2019 season. The Comets have rocketed to a 3-1 start and are yearning to be in the mix for the PAC-7 conference title.
Leading the charge for the Comets is freshman Kimman Power. The 6’2 lights-out shooter has been enrolled at the school since Kindergarten and has plans on putting Carolina International on the map. “I want us to finish the season with a winning record and compete every single night,” said Power. “We worked really hard to improve our scoring and our conditioning this summer. We can already see that it is paying off.”
To help fill the Comets’ void in the middle, Bell will look to Mallard Creek transfer Jarius Kelley. The 6’4 senior brings much needed experience to the Comets front court and is excited about the opportunity to help build the foundation. “Coming from the IMECK conference, the pace was very fast and the crowds were always incredible,” said Kelly. “I want to help build that same type of atmosphere here before I graduate and leave a mark.”
With a new home and a new rising star to call its own, Coach Bell is excited about the team’s future and has settled in for the long haul. “I’ve been coaching for over 20 years. I enjoy being around these guys so as long as they will have me, I am going to be right here.”
