STM’s Carlesimo D1 Bound

by Jared Exler | Saturday, April 23rd, 2022

St. Thomas More guard Kyle Carlesimo announced his commitment to Eastern Illinois, a D1 school in the Ohio Valley Conference earlier this week.

Carlesimo, a Seattle native and son of long time coach PJ Carlesimo was a key piece for three years on a Seattle Prep team that plays in the always tough Metro League. He was an integral component of helping his team in 2020 make it to WIAA 3A quarterfinals, losing in overtime to O’Dea which featured projected 2022 NBA Draft top-five pick Paolo Banchero.

With his final season at Seattle Prep being shortened as a result of COVID-19, Carlesimo chose to take a post-grad year at St. Thomas More. He made a significant impact during his lone season in the NEPSAC, averaging 19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game for a 25 win team. Also shot an impressive 48.7% from three-point range on 9.1 attempts per game.

“Kyle Carlesimo is a great kid from a great family with an awareness of what it takes to be successful in the world of basketball,” said St. Thomas More head coach Jere Quinn. “He’s cerebral, an elite shooter, and he was one of the players in New England who quickly made a name for himself this year for his competitiveness, toughness, and grit.”

“Eastern Illinois did a wonderful job recruiting him. His style of play will certainly match Coach Simmons’ concepts. We think Kyle will be one of the kids that a lot of people will be speaking about in a few years on a national level.”

“Kyle asserted himself throughout the year as one of the premier shooters in not only New England, but the entire country,” said St. Thomas More associate head coach Milo Luciano. “He demonstrated that he can get his shot off with minimal space and really extend the line with efficiency on incredible volume.”

“He’s a tough, reliable kid who will sacrifice his body and do anything it takes to win. We’re incredibly happy for him, his family, and EIU.”

Carlesimo becomes the seventh member of St. Thomas More’s 2022 class to finalize their college plans, while being the third to commit to a Division One program.