Late Value Still Available for 2011-2012 Point Guard

 

Today Upstate goes out west to Buffalo to profile one of the city’s most under the radar stars, City Honors Point Guard Jamaal Carter.  The 6’0 Carter averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in his senior year during the 2011-2012 campaign.  The City Honors standout is looking to continue his play at the next level.

 

Carter possesses tremendous athleticism, ball handling ability, and scoring prowess that would be an asset to any collegiate program. We see him as a potential Division I talent who did not get the right amount of exposure in High School.  Carter was a four-year starter at City Honors, widely considered one of the most elite academic high schools in New York State, and ranked the 11th best public High School in the country for 2012 from Newsweek Magazine.

 

Carter finished with All League honors his senior year, as well as making 4th team all Western New York and All State at the Class B level.  At 6’0, Carter showed gifted athletic ability as evidenced by his double digit rebounding average, a remarkable statistic from a lead guard. Carter also notched two triple doubles in his High School career and ranked in the top 20 in New York State in every major statistical category during the 2011-2012 season.

 

His personal trainer Glenn Taplin, a former standout Quarterback himself, believes that it’s Carter’s knack for taking over a game late that makes him a truly special player. “When it’s time to win, he knows when to take it upon himself. Two minutes left, tie ball game, time to make us win now. I think that’s important for a young kid to have.”

 

Randy Nevins was Carter’s AAU Coach and had the chance to watch him grow as a player. “He’s very dedicated to the game, to his players, he’s a phenomenal Point Guard”, Nevins said in an interview.

 

At the collegiate level, Carter possesses the scoring ability to play the two-guard but Taplin and Nevins see him remaining at his natural position of Point Guard.  “Jamaal sees the floor well; he tends to make others around him pretty good.  He’s very quick, and has great ball handling skills. When he gets to the collegiate level it’s going to happen a lot faster. He is going to have to make those Point Guard quick decisions. I think he’ll make an adjustment but he’s quick enough to handle the Point Guard position,” said Taplin. “He’s definitely a Point Guard, he passes well and rebounds very well for a Point Guard”, added Nevins.

 

Carter has been getting looks from division three schools around the Buffalo area, but is looking to play at a higher level. “I think over time he just didn’t get the looks that a Division I player would get”, said Taplin. “He came from City Honors, a class B school and he wasn’t getting the looks he would have been getting at a Class A school.”

 

However, that does not mean Carter doesn’t possess the ability to play at a Division I or II program down the line. Nevins believes he would be a valuable asset to whatever school ends up with “I think a lot of kids would love to play with him because he gets them involved. If they run the floor he’ll get them the ball.”  You can take a look at Carter’s talents for yourself in his highlight package.

 

Upstate Scouting Service would like to thank Glenn Taplin and Coach Randy Nevins for taking time to answer our questions, and we wish Jamaal the best of luck in his collegiate career.

 

Ross Bentley – Staff Writer