Colony senior commits to North Idaho College

PALMER — Alex Carlton recently texted Jeff Bowker, her coach for the last four years, asking for help with a workout. Carlton capped her stellar Colony High School basketball career more than a month ago.

But that is what separates Carlton from most, Bowker, Colony’s head girls’ basketball coach said. And that is a reason why Carlton has the opportunity to play at the next level.

Monday afternoon, surrounded by friends and family, Carlton officially committed to North Idaho College to play basketball for the two-year program in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

“The amount of time she’s put in,” Bowker said as Carlton posed with pictures with friends during the ceremony. “People see what they see on the court, but even her teammates don’t see all the time she puts in.”

Bowker, a girls and boys basketball coach at Colony High School for more than two decades, called Carlton one of the top 5 players he’s coached, in terms of dedication and determination, as he spoke about the senior point guard to those who attended the ceremony.

“It’s a constant for her,” Bowker said.

Bowker said at each step in her career Carlton is eager to improve.

“She works hard to make sure she can play the game,” Bowker said.

Bowker said he sees the junior college level as a good way for Carlton to break into the next level of basketball. Carlton said she sees junior college basketball as a way to move into the NCAA Division II or even Division I ranks.

“Improve there and hopefully go play DII or DI,” Carlton said.

Carlton said she considered a handful of schools, including Centralia and Everett community colleges in Washington, but sees North Idaho as the best fit. She said the school’s location in Idaho, the program and the coaching staff all factored into her choice.

Carlton is a three-time All-Northern Lights Conference first-team selection and was named second-team all-state as a junior and a senior.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.