2016-17 Buffalo Men’s Basketball Previews: Dontay Caruthers

Dontay Caruthers has been hopping around the midwest the past couple of years but he’s finally coming home to WNY.

The Basics

Number: 22

Year: R-Sophomore

Position: Point Guard

Hometown: Rochester, NY

Height: 6-1, 195 lbs.

New to Buffalo?

Yes, yes he is

Before UB

Caruthers had as good of a high school career you’d want. In his final season at East High School, the point guard averaged a whopping 28.2 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. Two games that season saw him score more than 50 points. Thanks to those efforts, he was awarded Greater Rochester Player of the Year—which definitely means something because Rochester is developing a lot of Division-I basketball talent. Taking the JUCO route, Caruthers spent his freshman year at Midland being coached by UB’s current assistant Bryan Hodgson. While there he averaged 10.1 points and 5 assists per game. Hodgson left Midland with the hiring of Nate Oats and so did Caruthers. But, the Rochester native made another stop before landing at Buffalo—at another familiar place named Indian Hills. That name should also ring a bell because that’s where MAC Player of the Year Justin Moss went. Unfortunately, Caruthers had to sit out his sophomore season due to injury.

Oh....and he’s Javon McCrea’s cousin, so there’s another connection to Buffalo.

Further Reading and Viewing:

Bull Run: Buffalo Bulls Basketball Inks Indian Hills JUCO PG Dontay Caruthers

East High's Dontay Caruthers stays on point

And that's what makes his coach, Darrell Barley, and his older brother, SUNY Brockport point guard Brandon Caruthers, smile. They see an 18-year-old starting to realize that he needs to do more than just play ball to earn a future. He needs to keep his grades up and stay "on the right path," Caruthers says, and to be a leader.

"Front row — no more class clowning," Caruthers explains when asked how he raised his grade-point average from 2.2 last year to 2.6.

East High's Dontay Caruthers headed to UB basketball

Caruthers played under Hodgson at Midland College two years ago in Texas, then transferred to Indians Hills Junior College in Iowa. Former Webster Schroeder and Indiana University product Emmitt Holt also played for IHJC last winter and has signed with Providence. Caruthers sat out last season with an injury, so he retained that season of eligibility.

2016-17 Outlook

Dontay could very well be the starting point guard this season and I would be satisfied with that decision. The point guard seems to take more of a back seat role to distribute the ball, but he doesn’t know how to score when he needs to. He’s significantly improved his game compared to his high school tape floating around the internet. Expect heavy minutes from the newcomer as UB tries to alleviate the loss of Lamonte Bearden.