Caracter is a Card

It wasn't a very good secret but Derrick Caracter has picked his college. The 6-foot-8, 275-pound big man from St. Patrick's High School in New Jersey is headed to Louisville. The five-star prospect announced his decision at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

After long considering Louisville and Memphis, Caracter said his decision came down to the men in charge at both schools. Rick Pitino or John Calipari, two college coaches who have both tasted the NBA waters.

"It came down to two great coaches in the end," Caracter said at his press conference. "I think Pitino was the best for my personal development. Coach Pitino's strong relationships with his players also impressed me."

Pitino is no stranger to the New York-New Jersey area. He's tapped into his Northeast roots while at Louisville and Kentucky. Caracter is the next big time prospect to join Pitino. Guys like Fransisco Garcia, Taequan Dean, Sebastian Telfair (who committed to the Cards but opted later for the NBA) and Jamal Mashburn (Kentucky) all pledged their services to the Pitino.

Caracter, the No. 25 ranked player in the class of 2006, is a talented forward while nimble feet, incredible passing skills and a great shot for a player his size. He joins four-star guards Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith in Louisville's 2006 recruiting class.

Since emerging onto the national recruiting radar as a baby-faced eighth grader at the Nike All-American camp, Caracter has had an up and down high school career. His potential is incredible however he's often times gone through the motions. However, Caracter eluded to the fact that Pitino's high expectations was one of the reasons why he picked the Cardinals.