City Dedicates Alex Caruso Court
With Ceremony At Castlegate Park
Information courtesy of College Station Parks & Recreation
The city-owned basketball court in College Station’s Castlegate Park was dedicated on Saturday as “Alex Caruso Court.” About 300 people attended the event, and the Chicago Bulls guard spent more than an hour signing autographs.
Caruso grew up down the street and first honed his skills on the Castlegate Court. He played in local church, school, and city leagues before emerging as a standout at A&M Consolidated High School and Texas A&M. In 2020, he became the first College Station-bred athlete to be part of a professional team championship when he helped the Los Angeles Lakers capture the NBA title.
The ceremony included the unveiling of a commemorative marker on the site. Mayor Karl Mooney, former A&M basketball radio analyst Al Pulliam and former A&M Consolidated High School Coach Rick German. Legendary A&M radio broadcaster Dave South served as master of ceremonies.
The College Station City Council approved the naming of the court last year.
As a prep senior in 2012, Caruso led A&M Consolidated High School to a school-record number of wins was named to the all-state team. A consensus national top-100 recruit, he chose to attend Texas A&M, where he became one of the greatest all-around players in school annals.
In 2016, Caruso not only led the Aggies to a school record of 28 wins and a berth in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen but perhaps the most stunning comeback in college basketball history. In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, A&M trailed Northern Iowa by 12 points with just 35 seconds left, but they rallied behind Caruso’s calm leadership to win in overtime. He finished the game with 25 points.
Caruso completed his college career as one of the winningest players in A&M annals and was named the Southeastern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year by CBS Sports. In the storied annals of the SEC, he’s the only player to reach 1,000 career points with at least 600 assists, 250 steals, and 500 rebounds. Caruso earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport and Fitness Administration from A&M in 2016.
He was undrafted out of college but worked his way up through the NBA’s summer and developmental leagues. Caruso made his NBA debut with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017, and two years later, he signed a two-year contract with the Lakers with a reputation as one of the league’s premier defensive players.
On Oct. 11, 2020, he started at point guard when the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat to win the world championship. Last summer, Caruso signed a four-year contract with the Bulls.
Part of Caruso’s vast appeal is his modesty and ordinary appearance. Along with his high-energy, selfless play, those traits have endeared him to fans across the country — all for a kid born and raised in College Station.