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Senior hoops star makes his mother proud

Charles Stone ´08

November 26, 2007

If you ask many young ball players who they idolize, they might answer with LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade.

Connecticut College senior Charles Stone doesn´t even have to answer. He wears a tattoo of his idol - his mother, Doris - on his left arm.

"She was a single parent, sometimes working two jobs," Stone said in his deep but direct voice. "She put both of my sisters through college and she would give the clothes off her back if she needed to."

Born in the Bronx section of New York, Stone moved to Hackensack in the second grade. His father and mother were separated, leaving him as the man of the house at a very young age. The responsibility and independence has served him well.

At Hackensack High School, Stone was voted the senior athlete of the year. He was considering attending a Division II School on an athletic scholarship but decided to attend the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. During that time, Connecticut College coach Tom Satran was paying close attention to Stone´s accomplishments. His persistent recruiting would eventually pay off.

"He was diligent," Stone said. "He was always calling and speaking to my mom. I guess we needed that push to wind up in a good place."

Satran knew that a prolific player with Stone´s talent would draw interest from several schools, but was confident Connecticut College would be a perfect fit.

"In the end, Charles had several full Division II scholarship offers, but I think he and his mother were committed to choosing the best possible academic school they could afford," Satran stated.

On the rustic Connecticut College campus in New London, Stone is known simply as Charles. On the court, No. 45 has been the marked man for every opposing coach, proving to be one of the top post players in America. Stone has scored 1,014 points and hauled in 471 rebounds during his first three years with the Camels. He has compiled 19 career double doubles - reaching double figures in points and rebounds in the same game.

In the New London community, Stone is the gentle giant who works with adolescents as a part of the college´s KBA Program (Kids, Books, and Athletics) and spends countless hours of his time as a volunteer at the Connecticut College Children´s Center. Then there´s Stone the chaperone and big brother who has spent his past three summers as a counselor at the Brant Lake Camp in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, serving as a big brother and mentor for teenagers.

There´s also Stone the communicator. Just about everybody on the Connecticut College campus knows him - because he really wouldn´t want to have it any other way.

"I try to say hello to everyone I come in contact with," Stone said. "We are living in a bubble. I feel like everybody here has something in common."

Stone´s mother appreciates the direction and opportunity that the Camel athletic program has provided Charles. She likes to attend the games, but it does pose an interesting dilemma.

"When he sees me, he doesn´t play as well," she said. "I try to hide in the stands."

Doris Stone says Satran has been a great influence on her son. "Any parent would be happy to have Coach Satran watching over her son," she said. "Coach has been a good mentor for Charles, as a friend and as a father figure."

Since arriving at Connecticut College, Stone has worked hard on both ends of the court. He has more confidence in his jump shot and is not afraid to stop and pop from the perimeter if defenders give him the room. Stone´s teammates Christian Mosley ´08 and Jeff Young ´09 make up a talented trio that should prove to be one of the most gifted senior classes in the region. "We are very optimistic about this season," Stone said. "Everybody has been working hard. We have added five good players who are going to push us each and every day."

- By Will Tomasian

For more information contact: Amy Sullivan (860) 439-2526; amy.sullivan@conncoll.edu