Providence basketball's Devin Carter opened some eyes at the NBA Combine; what he did
This week’s NBA Draft Combine confirmed what Providence College fans saw all season.
Devin Carter will be one of the premier athletes available for selection next month in Brooklyn. His performance over multiple days of physical testing in Chicago confirmed it.
Carter set an event record in the three-quarter court sprint. He tied for the lead among prospects in attendance in vertical jump and standing vertical jump. His time in the pro lane agility drill — an exercise that tests defensive mobility and change of direction — ranked in the top three.
Carter declined to take part in the on-site scrimmages, but that won’t matter in the long term. Bringing home Big East Player of the Year honors offered enough evidence as to how he can dominate games. The Friars will have their first player to hear his name called in eight years, and it could come early on the opening night at Barclays Center.
“I’m doing me,” Carter said in a Wednesday night appearance with The Field of 68. “I’m being myself. A lot of the people, I’m making them laugh.
“Me being me is the best way to approach it. I’ve been having some great talks with different organizations. I’m ready to work out for some of these organizations I’ve met with so far within the next few weeks.”
More: Devin Carter: NBA draft scouting report and intel
ESPN’s most recent mock draft had Carter going 16th overall to the Philadelphia 76ers. The official NBA website slotted Carter at 18th overall to the Orlando Magic. His professional comparison was current Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. Both of those mythical sets of selections were posted prior to this week.
Carter measured 6-foot-2¼ without shoes and carries a 6-foot-8¾ wingspan. He’s a touch undersized for a traditional shooting guard at the next level, but what he offers — defensive energy, improved shooting, a veteran’s mentality — carries significant value. Carter could also play on the ball for short stretches, and his complete skillset should have him close to ready to contribute when the next NBA season tips off in 2024-25.
“It’s just a lot of stuff,” Carter said. “It’s definitely a great experience being around possible teammates and people you’re going to be playing against.”
Carter averaged 19.7 points and 8.7 rebounds while starting in all of his 33 appearances for Providence last season. He sat out an NIT loss to Boston College while nursing multiple minor injuries and took a following trip to Disney World with Friars teammate Ticket Gaines. Carter took two weeks off to heal his body before jumping back into his workouts.
“Just staying consistent with my jumper is probably the main thing,” Carter said. “Some days we’ll mix in ballhandling. Some days we’ll mix in defensive slides to keep my hips loose.
“Just staying consistent with the jump shot is one thing I do with every workout.”
Carter stayed at Providence after former coach Ed Cooley made his shocking departure for Georgetown. The Friars came up shy of a third straight NCAA Tournament in Kim English’s sideline debut, but Carter had no regrets. He’d already transferred to Providence from South Carolina and didn’t feel the need to make another move.
“I could have left after Cooley left and made a lot of money as well, but I couldn’t leave the fan base,” Carter said. “I just wanted to win at Providence.
“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I like to water my grass. Just Kim coming in, everything he did and the trust he put in me, everything just added up.”
Carter will spend the next month meeting with and working out for NBA organizations. Additional interviews with executives and on-court sessions at their practice facilities — individual and smaller halfcourt games — will allow for further evaluation. Carter can direct any questions to his father, Anthony, a current assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies who spent more than a decade in the league as a player.
“I’ve leaned on him a lot throughout my life for a lot of different things,” Carter said. “Especially during this process — he didn’t get drafted. He didn’t get invited to the combine coming out of college. He definitely got it a different way than I did.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence basketball's Devin Carter impresses at NBA Draft Combine
