Sullivan enjoying quick rise

Prior to Dec. 27, there was one school on Carson Sullivan's recruiting list. A month later, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound combo guard from Charlotte (N.C.) Christian says things are quite different.

"I went from Liberty," he says, "to 20 other people."

Sullivan was one of the Most Valuable Players at the Bojangles Shootout in December. At the event in his backyard, the junior went for 30 and 35 points on back-to-back nights.

Since the tournament, Sullivan has watched his recruitment explode despite dealing with a bout with mono. College of Charleston head coach Bobby Cremins was on hand to see Sullivan when Charlotte Christian beat state power Ravenscroft earlier in the month. UNC Charlotte watched him at the Bojangles event.

"I don't think I can explain to you how big it was," Sullivan said of the tournament. "Obviously it was the biggest thing that has happened to me when it comes to that kind of stuff. If I want to play at the next level, it was huge for that. I would say I've heard from close to 20 schools since then. There have been a lot of mid-major schools and some schools that I have wanted to go to that just never have had the opportunity to see me play yet."

Charlotte, College of Charleston, Appalachian State, William & Mary and Elon round out his top five, he said. The local school, the 49ers, is looking strong with Sullivan.

"I'd say they are recruiting me the hardest and more than anyone else," he said. "They send me a lot of mail and I've been to two games now. They've been doing really well and they are trying to get their coach resigned so that is a big thing. If I could pick a place that I'd like to get an offer from, that would be one that I would definitely take a serious look at because it is in town and people that I grown up with go there. I've grown up with that program. College of Charleston is probably the second biggest one on my list.

"I'd love to play in the Southern Conference. I'd love to play for UNC-Charlotte or in (the CAA). I'd love to play in one of those three conferences and Bojangles was the main reason why I've heard from schools in those conferences."

Sullivan, who has yet to receive his first scholarship offer, said he isn't sure how to deal with all of the new found attention just yet but he wouldn't trade it for the world.

"It's weird because I don't know how to take all of it. Sometimes there are just too many letters to read in one day," Sullivan said. "Every school that I've realistically wanted to go to are recruiting me now. That's been the biggest thing for me."