Devin Carter emerged as one of college basketball’s best guards this season. Going into the draft, the Providence College product is viewed as either a potential riser or a draft-day steal. Let’s look at Carter’s game and position in this year’s draft.
Devin Carter’s 2024 NBA Draft Profile & College Career
Carter began his undergraduate career at South Carolina. In his one season with the Gamecocks, he averaged 9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while being chosen to the SEC all-freshman team before moving to Providence College. Carter’s statistics improved as a sophomore at PC to 13 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game. Carter truly burst in his junior year, averaging 19 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks while shooting.473/.377/.749 percent. These figures demonstrate Carter’s amazing versatility, which is uncommon for a 6’3″ guard. Carter was named Big East Player of the Year as a result of his outstanding season.
Strengths
Carter offers a well-rounded two-way impact. Highlighted by his lockdown perimeter defense. Carter uses his 6’7” wingspan to create havoc; he has elite positioning and unmatched intensity with the strength needed to guard multiple positions. This skill set perfectly sets Carter up as an elite point-of-attack defender in the NBA.
Carter’s 5.0 defensive box plus-minus ranked 14th in the nation and his 2.7 defensive win shares ranked 10th. Carter was the leader of the nation’s 18th-ranked defense. Additionally, Carter’s previously mentioned 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game highlight his disruptive defensive impact. His knack for shot-blocking is particularly intriguing and unique for a guard. Carter is an elite rebounder; his 8.7 rebounds per game last season ranked first among players 6’4” and below. Carter also led the Big East with a defensive rebound percentage of 23.7. This skill set makes Carter positionally versatile which adds to his intrigue and upside.
Furthermore, Carter is a connective playmaker with a high basketball IQ. He is comfortable operating in the pick-n-roll and is an extremely accurate passer. Carter is also capable of creating his own shot and is an elite finisher shooting 64% at the rim. He can finish through contact and ambidextrously. Carter is also an active off-ball player and elite cutter, a skillset he uses to consistently get high-percentage looks.
This season Carter shot 37% on 6.8 three-point attempts per game and is an elite catch-and-shoot threat with a ton of range. Notably, 72% of Carter’s threes were assisted and he ranked in the 93rd percentile for shooting off the catch. Overall this skill set makes Carter one of the most well-rounded and impactful guards in the draft.
Weaknesses
One of Carter’s biggest drawbacks is that he’s not an explosive athlete or ball handler. Carter mainly relies on his crafty moves and physical strength to score at the rim. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker and Carter’s athleticism is likely adequate at the NBA level, especially considering his other positives. However, it’s certainly questionable how Carter will adapt to the increased athleticism in the NBA. Additionally, he’s an effective ball-handler but not nearly dynamic enough to be a traditional lead guard. Carter struggled with turnovers averaging 2.7 per game compared to 3.6 assists. Despite his high IQ and decision-making abilities, Carter struggled when double-teamed. Carter will need to play next to another ball-handler to reach his full potential.
While Carter showed a ton of upside and improvement as a shooter this year he is still largely unproven in this area. He shot just 33% from beyond the arc throughout his college career including sub-30 percentage for his first two years. Furthermore, he shot just 72% from the line throughout his college career. At 22 years old Carter’s age is also a slight drawback however in a weaker draft class, this might not matter as much.
NBA Comparison
Carter’s well-rounded skill set and defensive prowess make him eerily similar to Bruce Brown. If Carter reaches an All-Star level and his jumper translates, Jrue Holiday is an apt comparison.
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