Devin Carter bids farewell to Friartown

It was only a matter of time before Devin Carter made official what almost all Friars’ fans knew was bound to happen. Last week, Carter announced, via Instagram, that he was declaring for the NBA draft and would not return to Providence for his senior year.

Devin Carter is hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps. Anthony Carter played 13 seasons in the NBA from 1999-2012. The elder Carter’s best season came in 2007 when he started 67 games for the Denver Nuggets, averaging 7.8 points and 5.5 assists per game.

Devin is more athletic and a better shooter than his father. Will it translate to the NBA? 

Many project Carter to be a first round draft pick come June. A few think he may even be a lottery pick. There is no way I think Carter will be a lottery pick. I also doubt he will be a first round pick. It also wouldn't surprise me if he goes undrafted.

And this is coming from someone who has always overvalued Providence players going into the NBA. I thought Marshon Brooks was going to be a bonafide NBA star. I thought he had a lot of Kobe Bryant in him. I was ecstatic when the Boston Celtics drafted him and, equally, disappointed when the Celtics immediately traded him away.

I thought Kris Dunn was going to be the next Anfernee Hardaway – a tall, lanky point guard who could do it all. I was disappointed when the Celtics drafted Jaylen Brown third in the 2016 NBA draft, bypassing Dunn who went fifth to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In that same 2016 draft, I thought power forward/center Ben Bentil was going to be a sneaky good NBA player. Years before that, I thought Jamel Thomas and Jamine Patterson were going to be NBA stars.

I was wr-wr-wrong in all those cases. Thinking back, I still don’t understand how. I was so certain of it at the time. They were all tremendous college players who had amazing talent. But, the NBA is a whole other level.

I enjoyed watching Carter play this season, but I just never viewed him as an NBA player. I wanted to, but I never could. Even when Carter would have one of his frequent games where he would fill up stat sheets scoring points, securing rebounds, stealing passes, and blocking shots.

Carter has made himself into a terrific college basketball player. After all, he did win Big East Player of the Year. That is no small accomplishment. No one can doubt his work ethic. He has improved his three-point and free throw shooting each of his three years in college. That is indicative that he has put in the work during the offseason to identify his weaknesses and correct them.

But hard work can only get you so far. The six-foot-three Carter will be limited, offensively, at the next level. He has a difficult time creating shots off the dribble. In college, he has shown an amazing ability to finish around the rim, but in the NBA he won’t be able to get his shots over, under, or around the seven-footers in the league.

Carter also has a quirky outside shot. He needs time and room to get it off. In other words, he needs to be wide open or in transition.

All that being said, Carter will be able to carve a niche for himself as a defensive specialist. His hustle, grittiness, and anticipation are his hallmarks. He plays like a player much taller. It is amazing how well he can rebound and block shots. He is a very heady player which should come as no surprise being the son of an NBA player. He also has above average leaping ability. He made some alley-oop dunks this year which had my jaw on the ground. He was always good for at least one steal leading to a breakaway dunk per game. I watched Friars’ games anticipating a steal and a dunk from Carter every game as much as I expected the sun to rise every day.

While I have come to despise players leaving early to try and enter the NBA, I don’t blame Carter for leaving now. As much as I would love him to come back for one more year with Providence, Carter’s stock will never be higher than it is right now. Bryce Hopkins was the team's leader coming into the season before blowing out his ACL in early January, but Hopkins should be back next season and that would cut into Carter’s stat line.

For Carter, now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. I wish Carter the best of luck at the next level. I hope he proves me wrong.