Duke goes big with Wendell Carter
Atlanta, GA
One of the most decorated high school basketball athletes to come out of the loaded state of Georgia in recent years, Wendell Carter called it a day with his college recruitment. The intellectual yet talented five-star big man out of Pace Academy chose Duke as his college destination, giving Coach K another premier big man option that is talented and skilled enough to see an offense be run through him.
Choosing the Blue Devils over the likes of Harvard, Georgia, and Georgia Tech, it may have seemed easy from the outside looking in, but the Crimson were a major threat for the services of the top ranked big man. A very smart kid off of the floor, the idea of spending at least one year on the Cambridge campus appealed so greatly to Carter that he took his first official visit to the Ivy League program back in mid-September.
Now a Duke commit, Coach K has added yet another elite option in the post. In the past, the program out of Durham had trouble luring top of the line frontcourt talent to its campus as many opposing college programs belittled the Blue Devils and their willingness, or lack thereof, to get their big men opportunities within their offense. No longer is that the case and after showcasing the abilities of Jahlil Okafor two years ago in leading up to a national championship, Carter could be just the type to allot for similar success for the ACC blueblood.
What is Duke getting in Carter? A 6-foot-10 center with a 7-foot-5 wingspan that has taken the proper steps with his game every step of the way. He is one of the most polished back to the basket big men that has come up through the high school ranks for some time now but has also improved his face-up skills and shot making abilities where he can knock down the elbow jumper. His athleticism has progressed, just as well, which had made him a good traffic finisher and weakside shot blocker on the opposing side of the floor.
A gold medal winner on the international circuit with the USA Basketball family, the Team CP3 star was rather dominant on the Nike EYBL circuit this past summer. Averaging over 16 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with nearly three blocks and two assists per game, shows just how effective the big man can and will be. Throw in the fact that he converted on over 70-percent of his field goal tries and the efficiency out of the Pace Academy product is as good as it can get.
The third member within the Blue Devils’ 2017 recruiting class, Carter is joined in Durham next year by close friend and fellow USA Basketball teammate Gary Trent Jr. The two five-star talents will also be aided by Alex O’Connell, another Peach State native and top-50 wing, that give Coach K’s bunch another top-10 recruiting class nationally as the Blue Devils continue to pursue such others as Matt Coleman, Trevon Duval, Kevin Knox, and Mohamed Bamba.
