By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
 
Thirteen games into the season, three of which he missed, Brandon Carroll was struggling. Not only was he returning to Division I basketball, he was in an unfamiliar system at William & Mary. Not helping matters any, his ankle continued to be a nag.
 
Carroll's stats at that point: 4 points and 3.3 rebounds a game, 28% shooting from the floor. He wasn't himself.
 
Then came the reset button known as conference play. In his last 10 games, Carroll has averaged 11.5 points while shooting 45%. In that stretch, he has led the Tribe in rebounding (6 per game), steals (2.4) and blocked shots (1.5).
 
"I definitely needed some time to adjust, especially to the rigors of not only the school but the different environment," said Carroll, a 6-foot-7 forward who transferred from Division II Florida Southern College. "I was dealing with lingering ankle issues and getting everything together.
 
"When I got comfortable with my surroundings, I was able to focus on being the best version of myself. That's why I feel like I've been doing pretty well lately."
 
In an 83-75 win at Drexel on Jan. 22, Carroll had his first double-double at William & Mary with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He also had five steals.
 
Three nights later, in a one-point loss at Charleston, Carroll filled the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds, six steals and five blocked shots. He had another double-double (11 and 10) the following game against Elon.
 
"Once we hit the New Year, he looked settled in," W&M coach Dane Fischer said. "He's obviously made a huge impact in conference play. He can help us win games in a lot of different ways."
 
Carroll's presence at William & Mary is a story in itself. It involves an athletic late bloomer, opportunity knocking, a global pandemic, and one of the best business schools in the country.
 
Although on the tall side, Carroll gravitated toward football, where he was a wide receiver, and track. He first played organized basketball in his junior year at Brewster (N.Y.) High, where he described his playing time as "sparing."
 
For his senior year, Carroll enrolled at Iona Prep in New Rochelle. Still, playing time was scarce and no scholarship offers came. A gifted student who scored in the 99^th percentile in his ACT, Carroll was to start classes at Binghamton University in August 2016.
 
But out of the blue, a family friend with an AAU team asked if he could play at the Hoop Group Pittsburgh Jam Fest that spring. After Carroll scored 15 points, his coach told a reporter how "shocking" it was that he never played at Iona Prep. His life was about to change.
 
Weeks before he was to start classes at Binghamton, Carroll received his first scholarship offer. It was from Bryant University in Rhode Island, which had recently transitioned to Division I. After redshirting his first season, Carroll averaged 5.9 points and 3.8 rebounds a game in 2017-18.
 
The following season, there was a coaching change.
 
"We really didn't see eye to eye," Carroll said of the new guy. "I decided it was best for me to pursue another opportunity.
 
One of Bryant's assistants had played at Florida Southern, which as a D-II program would allow Carroll to play immediately. In 41 games over two seasons, he averaged 12.5 points and 4.4 rebounds a game and shot 43% from the 3-point arc. He got his B.S. in business administration and enrolled in Florida Southern's business school.
 
Because of COVID-19, the NCAA granted all athletes an extra year of eligibility. Because he had redshirted his first year at Bryant and played only four seasons of college basketball, Carroll would be able to compete 2021-22.
 
Looking for an ideal setting for both basketball and business school, Carroll entered the NCAA transfer portal. That's where Tribe assistant coach Mike Howland comes in.
 
"We had a lot of success at Winthrop recruiting Division II kids when I was an assistant there," Howland said. "I understood the value of guys who produce at the Division II level but fall through the cracks. I watched a little of Brandon's video and I was intrigued with his athleticism.
 
"Talking to his dad, I found out he had a 34 (out of a possible 36) on the ACT. His sister had visited here, so she was an immediate advocate for us. This was really a good combo for us."
 
The Raymond A. Mason School of Business sealed the deal.
 
"It was an enormous draw," Fischer said. "He was looking for more than just a basketball opportunity. He was looking for not only an M.B.A., but an M.B.A. from one of the best schools he could find.
 
"It lined up perfectly. It was everything he was looking for, and he was everything we were looking for."
 
Carroll felt the same way.
 
"William & Mary certainly exceeded all expectations," he said. "It has a great head coach and great business school on top of that. I'm glad I ended up here."
 
In addition to the basketball court, Carroll also is making his mark in business school. Dr. David M. Long, associate professor of management, admires the way Carroll handles himself in the classroom.
 
"At first, I assumed Brandon was just a quiet student who was reluctant to speak out, but I was wrong," Long said. "He listens, thinks, and contributes in an impactful way. I remember when his MBA group of five students presented on the topic of leadership. Brandon was the group's most articulate and well-spoken communicator.
 
"He was direct, clear, and made great eye contact with his audience when he presented. I was impressed. I would classify Brandon as a humble leader, often quiet but engaged, focused, and processing the information around him."
 
Carroll is set to earn his M.B.A. this spring and already has a job lined up with Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York City. His plan is to work there for two years and attend law school.
 
Which means after nine years of college, he'll have an M.B.A. and a J.D.
 
"I'm one of those people who generally enjoys education," Carroll said. "In 10 years, I can definitely see myself being a partner at a law firm."
 
After taking an unlikely path there.
 
"Definitely like a storybook," he said. "You couldn't make this up."