High School Report Card: Wendell Carter Jr.

Wendell Carter Jr., the talented Georgia big man, was a bit overshadowed at times last year at Duke playing alongside fellow Top 10 prospect Marvin Bagley III.

That trend has continued during the NBA Draft process with scouts drooling over players with the most NBA "potential" like Bagley (again), Mohamed Bamba and Jaren Jackson Jr.

If Bagley didn't reclassify at the last minute and Carter was able to be "the man" at Duke, he likely would have been a top 5 pick with increased numbers in his lone year for the Blue Devils. The elite big man has a complete offensive game with strong inside-out potential at the next level. While undersized for an NBA center at 6-foot-10, his wide frame and elite rebounding abilities should make up for any height deficiencies.

What isn't being talked about enough is the Carter's consistency throughout his high school basketball career. While at Pace Academy (Atlanta), he averaged 12.3 rebounds as a sophomore, 13.6 rebounds as a junior and 15.5 rebounds his senior year. Leading the Knights to back-to-back state titles, Carter finished with 30 points and 20 rebounds during his junior state title game, and 20 points and 17 rebounds in his senior state title conquest.

Read on for a deeper look at the Top 10 projected pick's excellent high school career.
Prospect Report Card — Wendell Carter Jr.

High School Record: 74-21 in three seasons at Pace Academy.

Stats/Accomplishments: Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year. Third team MaxPreps All-American. State championships at Pace Academy in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Outstanding Achievement: Guided Pace Academy to back-to-back state titles his junior and senior seasons, leading the charge on both ends of the court. Named the Atlanta/South Fulton Player of the Year in each of his three seasons at Pace Academy. He averaged 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.1 blocks per game as a sophomore; 21.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks during his junior campaign; and 22.7 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game his senior year. The talented big man appears ready to step in and compete at the next level immediately, with his NBA-ready body, elite rebounding and ability to shoot the ball out to 3-point line.

Needs Work: The biggest question surrounding Carter is ability to defend in space at the next level with his large frame. There are also questions around his explosiveness and his upside compared to other big men in this year's draft.

Best Fit: Carter's ability to step away from the basket and shoot adds an extra dimension to his game. He could be a valuable asset to a team in need of a stretch big who can step in from Day One and compete in the paint. Carter would be a perfect compliment in Chicago beside promising stretch big, Lauri Markkanen or in New York beside two-way superstar Kristaps Porzingis.