The NFL draft is probably one of the most exciting events in the sports world and yet as someone who isn’t even 18 years old. I never dreamed that I would be able to watch it for myself. My family lives in Dallas, so my Dad bought me a ticket to fly out there on Saturday, April 27th. That morning we boarded our flight from JFK airport and had a real treat waiting for us. When we arrived – an appearance by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Lorenzo Carter!
How Lorenzo Carter Grew Up To Be The Mid-Round Pick He Was
Lorenzo Carter was not always destined for a basketball career. Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Carter played football and track in high school before burning out on the sport. He then focused on basketball and attended junior college before transferring to Tennessee. After playing two years at Tennessee, Carter declared for the NBA draft but was not selected.
He then spent a year playing in Italy before returning to the United States and joining the Charlotte Hornets. Carter has since blossomed into one of the most promising young players in the league and is set to become a household name soon. Here is how he rose to prominence:
Lorenzo Carter Professional Career
Carter began his professional career by averaging 10 points per game with the Hornets’ G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. This impressive performance helped him earn a call-up to Charlotte’s roster for their game against the Miami Heat. Carter recorded 17 points and six rebounds off the bench in just over 20 minutes of play in this game. Impressive numbers for a player who had not yet made an NBA appearance!
Early Life of Lorenzo Carter
Carter was born on November 2, 1994, in St.Louis, Missouri to Lorenzo and Saundra Carter. Growing up, he enjoyed playing basketball and football with his cousins. At an early age, Carter showed an innate ability to score in bunches. In fact, his aunt once scored 46 points in a game while he was on the sidelines cheering her on.
Carter attended SMSCC-Webster Groves High School where he averaged 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists per game as a senior. After graduating from high school, Carter played one year of college basketball for Central Arkansas before declaring for the 2016 NBA Draft.
In the 2016 NBA Draft, Carter was drafted by the Brooklyn Nets with the 37th pick in the second round. He signed a two-year contract with the Nets and started playing for their G-League affiliate Bakersfield Jam during the 2016-17 season. In 2017-18, Carter played for Raptors 905 of the Canadian Basketball League (CBL).
High School of Lorenzo Carter
Lorenzo Carter was not always destined for a career in football. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, he was a standout basketball player and was considered one of the top prospects in his class. However, when Carter’s father urged him to try out for the football team at their high school, he agreed and ended up becoming one of the best players on the squad.
Carter went on to play at Hinds Community College and then signed with Memphis as an undrafted free agent in 2014. That year, he played in all 16 games and recorded five sacks. In 2016, Carter became a full-time starter and led the team with 11 sacks.
Scouting Reports and Transcripts
Lorenzo Carter was born on January 24th, 1995 in Houston, TX. He attended Lamar High School and played for the school’s basketball team. Carter was a four-year starter for Lamar and was named to the All-District Team as a senior. He averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game during his career. Carter participated in the NBA Draft Combine and measured at 6’9” with a 7’0” wingspan. He ran the fastest time among all of the prospects in the draft (4.94 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle) and had the best vertical jump (37 inches).
Carter signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel’s Liga Leumit after going unselected in the 2017 NBA Draft. In 28 games for Maccabi Tel Aviv this season, Carter has averaged 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 block per game while shooting
College Career
Carter played a pivotal role in Clemson’s ACC Championship season, finishing the year with 54 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four sacks. He also broke up eight passes and forced two fumbles as a junior while starting all 13 games. Carter totaled 117 tackles, 21.5 for loss, and nine sacks as a sophomore. The Chicago native was rated as the No. 21 strongside linebacker in the country by Rivals.com and was named to the All-ACC second team.
Draft Process of Lorenzo Carter
Lorenzo Carter was not the most well-known name on many draft boards heading into the 2017 NFL Draft. However, the defensive back from Georgia State caught the eye of scouts and was able to work his way up draft boards throughout the process.
