Duke standout freshman forward Wendell Carter Jr. has joined his recent frontcourt mate, Marvin Bagley III, in declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft. Carter took his time to weigh his options. The Duke Basketball Twitter account broke the news, as Carter announced his plans early Monday afternoon.
The 19-year-old is the final member of Duke’s starting five to declare for the draft.
NBA next. Duke forever. Our guy @wendellcarter34 is going to make big moves at the next level.#TheBrotherhood 🔵😈 pic.twitter.com/hFyKfGxP3g
— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) April 16, 2018
Carter averaged 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 2.0 assists in 26.8 minutes per game for the loaded Blue Devils, who featured five potential first-round picks in the starting lineup.
“It was really tough decision. I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to make a tough decision like that. I think I made the best one,” @wendellcarter34 to @TheUndefeated on going to the NBA from Duke
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) April 16, 2018
Former Duke center @wendellcarter34 tells @TheUndefeated he is considering five different NBA agents to hire and is uncertain about whether he will be participating in the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) April 16, 2018
Fans were hopeful he would return to Durham.
Could you imagine this lineup 🔥👀
PG- Tre Jones
SG- RJ Barret
SF- Cam Reddish
PF- Zion Williamson
C- Wendell Carter JrKey guys off bench:
Bolden
DeLaurier
O’Connell
Goldwire— Duke Fan Page (@BDevilsNation) April 16, 2018
His Future
Carter is a skilled big man with great court sense and timing. Though some scouts have concerns about his athletic upside, he is a projected lottery pick. The latest NBADraft.net mock draft has him slated at No. 7 to Sacramento.
Carter will jockey for draft position with other bigs such as Mohamed Bamba (Texas), Kevin Knox (Kentucky), and Jontay Porter (Missouri). He is viewed as a second-flight forward prospect, behind the top-pick-slated bigs such as DeAndre Ayton (Arizona), Bagley (Duke), and Luka Donkic (Slovenia), among others.
Carter’s father, Wendell Carter Sr., played professional basketball in the Dominican Republic. His mother played at the University of Mississippi.
