Carlos Powell out as Gray Collegiate basketball coach after one season. Here’s the latest
Carlos Powell is out as Gray Collegiate boys basketball coach after one season, multiple local athletics sources told The State on Tuesday.
The reasoning for Powell’s departure wasn’t immediately known. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
On Wednesday, the school released that there was a change in leadership of the boys’ basketball program and Powell submitted his resignation.
“The Gray family thanks and appreciates Coach Powell’s leadership this past season and we wishhim well on his future endeavors. We have begun the search for our next head coach to lead our championship boys basketball program,” Gray principal Dr. Brian Newsome said in a school release.
Powell was introduced as Gray’s new coach in May, taking over after Dion Bethea left to take a job at Georgia Southern.
Powell was the second coach in Gray Collegiate program history. Gray won six Class 2A championships under Bethea, including three in a row before moving up to Class 4A this season due to the South Carolina High School League’s realignment.
Gray went 19-8 this season and lost in the third round of the 4A playoffs to North Augusta, 66-56 (OT).
Before coming to Gray, Powell coached at his alma mater Wilson and led the Tigers to the 2022 state championship.
Powell was an assistant coach at Ridge View and part of the Blazers’ 2020 state championship team before getting the Wilson job. He got into coaching after successful high school, college and professional careers.
At USC, Powell was known for his energetic play and was an all-SEC selection and the MVP for the 2005 NIT tournament. He finished his career with 1,541 points and 641 rebounds in 132 games. He is the eighth leading scorer in school history.
After college, Powell had stints on NBA training camp rosters with Phoenix and Golden State. Powell played overseas for more than a decade with stops in Israel, Iran, New Zealand, South Korea and Venezuela. He also played in the NBA D-League (now called G-League) and Continental Basketball Association.
This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM.
