For those of you who started following this site once the regular season started, throughout last summer we had a series of videos that showed the games of Al Durham and Justin Minaya after they signed with Providence. The intent was to get Friar fans familiar with the games of the incoming transfers by showing video of their previous stints at Indiana and South Carolina.
I plan on doing the same throughout this spring and summer with PC’s latest signees.
Here’s the disclaimer I’ll add to each of these articles throughout the offseason: These videos are not meant to be purely highlights. They will certainly highlight what each of these players does well, but I will try to include every possession I watch to balance the excitement of a signing, while setting realistic expectations.
In other words, you’ll see the good, bad, and everything in-between.
Devin Carter had perhaps the best statistical game of his freshman season when South Carolina visited Ole Miss in mid-February. Yet, it wasn’t any of his 16 points, 11 rebounds, or four assists that stood out as his most impressive play.
With Ole Miss trailing by three with about a minute and a half to go in regulation, Carter air-balled a floater and Ole Miss grabbed the rebound. Instead of sulking, or panicking with a reach-in foul, Carter hounded the man he was defending, spinning him around a few times before forcing a ten second violation to get Carolina the ball back.
Any scouting report on Carter will likely start with his athleticism, the quickness that he uses to close out aggressively on jump shooters and get into the paint consistently. But there is something that won’t show up on highlight reels: Carter plays with constant energy every minute he is on the floor.
Playing hard doesn’t seem like it should be considered a skill, but few play with his aggression and energy on every possession. Yes, there were some ill-advised plays that come with an ultra-aggressive freshman playing big minutes in the SEC, but he must be an exhausting player to match up against.
When he grabs a defensive rebound, Carter is immediately looking to attack — similar to his approach off of the catch on offense. This type of energy could be the difference late in close games for Providence next season. Ed Cooley loves to say “just keep it close until the four minute mark.” During those final minutes, Carter’s energy — a deflection here, a timely rebound there, getting to the line against dragging defenders — will pay dividends.
Another energy play came with South Carolina trailing by six with just over three minutes to go in regulation. The Gamecocks twice got the initial stop, only to see Ole Miss come up with a pair of deflating offensive rebounds. Undeterred, Carter rose high on their third straight miss to snatch a rebound, and went 90 feet for a layup.
He came up with another rebound on Ole Miss’s next possession, and once again he headed back down court full speed. This time, Carter got to the paint, but whipped a pass to teammate Keyshawn Bryant for a corner three to make it a one point game with 2:38 remaining.
With 16 seconds left and South Carolina up two, he jumped a passing lane for a steal.
Carter’s final clutch play came in overtime. Down 73-72 with 1:30 left, Carter tipped in a layup attempt with his left hand to give USC the lead.
South Carolina eventually won this one, 77-74, on a halfcourt shot at the buzzer.
Carter came off of the bench to shoot 5-10 from the field (0-2 from three) and made six of the nine free throws he attempted. He threw down a crazy two-handed alley oop as South Carolina started surging in the second half.
The win was South Carolina’s second straight in what would ultimately become a four-game winning streak. The game prior saw Carter go for 21 points against Georgia.
Against Ole Miss, Carter made a number of winning plays.
Devin Carter's Energy, Clutch Play Ability Were On Display at Ole Miss