Daniel’s dream comes true on basketball court

Carrico rose above his circumstances to become coach and mentor to area youth

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It started as a dream, rooted in love, and is becoming a legacy.

Daniel Carrico started Indiana Havoc, formerly Howard County Havoc, in 2020 after a successful run as event coordinator of the JC Barnett School of Jump Shooting: Youth Basketball Company. As coordinator of ‘JCYBC’, Danny (as his friends know him) planned and organized four leagues between late 2018 and early 2020, serving more than 1,000 kids with free quality basketball in North Central Indiana.

Basketball coach and mentor Daniel Carrico (center) speaks to his Indiana Havoc players during a timeout.

As he grew up, basketball was always Carrico’s passion. Much of that love for the game grew out of a relationship with Phil Cox. Traveling the roads on AAU road trips, the many basketball practices, all the games he played for Cox; none of that meant as much to him as the time spent off the court with Connersville’s 1972 Indiana Mr. Basketball.

“My story is always going to be different with [Phil],” said Carrico. “I chose a different path. I screwed up all through high school. Even when I wasn’t acting right, even when he knew I was never going to play basketball again, Phil was there for me every day.”

Carrico found himself flat on his back in jail with nowhere to look but up in 2017, seeking purpose in life a source of inspiration. During that short stint confined to a cell, he saw a cart of books being taken around to inmates. On top of the pile of books he found the book of Daniel from the Bible; not the entire Bible, but just that single book bearing his name.

The book of Daniel consists of stories about a faithful and loyal servant named Daniel, who had been given the wisdom and the knowledge to interpret dreams. Because of his gift, he found favor with kings, and every need he had provided for him.

It struck Carrico as odd, but quickly it registered with him that it could be he was having an encounter with this book for some divine reason. Could it be the source of inspiration he needed?

“That was the first time I really ever learned and understood what my name meant,” he said.

The members of the Indiana Havoc travel basketball organization.

Three out of the six nights he found himself in this predicament, he had dreams; dreams that couldn’t be ignored.

Carrico recalled, “I can remember I had a dream about Jay and his friends.”

Jay is Carrico’s son, an excellent Taylor High school football player recruited by a number of Indiana colleges, including Ball State.

“I asked them, ‘why aren’t you playing basketball or doing anything?’” Carrico said.

He never forgot the response given to him; words that would change everything. They said, “Nobody lets us do anything. Nobody asks us to do anything. And we can’t pay for it.”

When Carrico was released, he immediately went into action to do something about the dreams he’d had. The first thing he and the core group of young men, including his son, did the summer of 2018 was enter the Haynes Apperson Festival 3-on-3 tournament. That was followed by another 3-on-3 tournament now named in honor of Kokomo sports legend Bobby Pettigrew which is a part of the larger ‘Studebaker Fest’ held in Studebaker Park on the city’s northeast side.

Javion Harris, a promising freshman at Taylor High School sees the same qualities Carrico found in Phil Cox in Carrico himself.

“He’s brought me a long way,” said Harris. “I’ve gone through a lot of things with him. He checks up on us everyday almost. He’s probably one of the best coaches.”

Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” once said, “Love is at the root of everything. What we see and hear is a part of who we become.”

Harris, with passion and boldness, spoke those words in front of Carrico, and it brought tears to his eyes. Carrico stands 6’6”; a big guy. However, in that moment, his stature was no match for the power of love contained inside of those words. You could see he has a big gushing heart inside of him. You could feel the genuineness in the way that he interacts with the youth and the way that they respond to him.

The program Carrico runs today with the Indiana Havoc is rooted in love.

“It has always been about the kids for me,” Carrico said.

He also makes sure anyone he allows to be involved with Havoc is of the same mind frame and is leading from the heart.

“This has always been so much bigger than me; a lot of guys deserve credit.” Carrico said as he mentioned several individuals who have been instrumental to the success of the program: Darrick Kirby, Leighton Adair, Ryan Ropes, Stephen Calhoun, and several more. “Without guys like them, this thing doesn’t function.”

It is certainly evident that Carrico is leaving a legacy that will last for many decades to come.