Delaware's Carl Baptiste, right, breaks through the defense of Pittsburgh's Durand Johnson (5) and Talib Zanna during the second half of an NCAA college basketball in a consolation game at the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Carl Baptiste had a decision to make.
The North Hunterdon High School graduate wasn't content with his role with the Saint Joseph's University men's basketball team. He saw action in 17 games for the Hawks during the 2010-11 season, averaging 1.4 points per contest.
Baptiste assessed the situation and believed transferring, even though he would have to sit out a season due to NCAA regulations, was the best answer.
Now at the University of Delaware, the junior forward couldn't be happier.
"I wasn't fitting into the team at St. Joe's with my playing style and my role," Baptiste said. "I felt it was best if I moved somewhere else. Delaware recruited me after high school, so I had a relationship with the coaches and let them know I was transferring.
"I'm definitely glad I came to Delaware. It was absolutely the right choice."
Baptiste, who averaged 21.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game during his senior season with the Lions, said he also considered Florida Atlantic, Bowling Green and Ohio as possible destinations, but set sail for Newark, Del., in the summer of 2011.
The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder didn't mind the mandated redshirt during the 2011-12 season. In fact, he said it helped him prepare for his final two years of eligibility with the Blue Hens.
"I definitely wasn't upset I had to sit out a year because I knew I had a lot of things to work on," said Baptiste, who is averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in seven games (three starts) this season. "I felt I took advantage of it in the weight room and doing extra work on the court. I'm still trying to get my feel and get back into the flow of the game, though. The coaches have confidence in me and so do my teammates, but I still have to work out the kinks and then I'll be all right."
Baptiste has started the last three games for Delaware (2-5), which continues its season-opening eight-game road trip at second-ranked Duke at 2 p.m. Saturday, in place of senior forward Josh Brinkley, who has been dealing with an ankle issue. Baptiste scored four points and grabbed seven rebounds in 25 minutes of the Blue Hens' 63-60 loss at Lafayette on Wednesday night. It was the closest to home Baptiste has played since graduating from North Hunterdon.
Despite being roughly 30 minutes from Pittstown, N.J., Baptiste said only his parents, Carl and Laura, attended the game against the Leopards at Kirby Sports Center. He said more of his friends (who were on Thanksgiving break) came to Madison Square Garden as Delaware played Kansas State and Pittsburgh in the NIT Season Tip-Off on Nov. 21 and 23.
Playing in front of crowds of 7,000-plus at venues like MSG will only help Baptiste and his teammates moving forward as Delaware strives to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999.
"It was a great experience especially with our aspirations and hopes of making the tournament at end of year -- same environment, big arena," Baptiste said. "It was a good experience to get those jitters out playing in front of so many people."
Blue Hens seventh-year coach Monte Ross likes Baptiste's work ethic and admitted sometimes the junior is his own worst enemy on the court when he over-thinks the game. Ross has challenged Baptiste to improve his rebounding and he certainly showed it against the Leopards with seven boards.
"We talked to him about being much more aggressive on the offensive and defensive glass and he was that (Wednesday)," Ross said.
"That's probably going to be the biggest part of my game," Baptiste said. "I have to hit both glasses hard, especially next year with (senior forward) Jamelle (Hagins) being gone, so they're going to look to me to get the majority of rebounds. My main offseason focus is being a better rebounder."