(Editor's note: Carroll College athletics release)
HELENA -- The NAIA national runner-up Carroll College men's basketball team signed Malachi Afework of Federal Way, Washington, head coach Kurt Paulson announced on Tuesday.
"I choose Carroll because when I visited it seemed like a great place where I could become a better person on and off the court," Afework said. "I also think coach Paulson is a great coach with high energy."
A Fife High School graduate, Afework is a 6-foot-1 point guard. He averaged 20.2 points, 4.4 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 steals per game. Afework joins a large 2019 recruiting class for the men's basketball program, upping the class size to eight.
"Carroll basketball just got better with the late addition of Malachi," Paulson said. "He is the type of person and player that we strive to recruit in the program. He will make his teammates better with his ability to set them up for shots. He will enjoy being able to distribute to our shooters and finishers and also convert on his own. He has a knack for getting to the rim and making tough layups. Another dimension of his game that we love is his defensive pressure and creating steals mentality, he loves to get in passing lanes and create offense from defense."
Afework helped Fife go 20-9 during the 2018-19 season and qualify for the 2019 State WIAA Boys 2A Hardwood Classic. He was named second team all-tournament.
He joins a Saints team on the heels of the program's first run to the NAIA's national championship game. Carroll posted a 29-8 record in Paulson's first season, advancing to the championship before falling to No. 1 Georgetown.
Carroll men's basketball signs Malachi Afework of Washington https://t.co/oiJCxR4Eor
— Carroll Athletics (@CCSaints) August 6, 2019
2019 Carroll College Men's Basketball Recruiting Class (alphabetized by last name)
Malachi Afework, 6-1, PG, Federal Way, Washington
Brady Duvall, 6-3, G, Geraldine, Montana
Dennis Flowers III, 6-2, G, Woodland Hills, California
Jonny Hillman, 6-2, G, Post Falls, Idaho
Ifeanyi Okeke, 6-7, F, Rancho Cucamonga, California
Sayer Patton, 6-3, W, Choteau, Montana
Gaven Ramirez, 6-6, W, Corona, California
Brendan Temple, 6-7, W, Castle Rock, Colorado
