Introducing the Next Coming
Duke's Adonis Carter is preparing for life in the spotlight
The NBA will continue to see a new influx of young talent, exemplified by the exceptional talent that is Duke's Adonis Carter
Duke's Adonis Carter is preparing for life in the spotlight
The NBA will continue to see a new influx of young talent, exemplified by the exceptional talent that is Duke's Adonis Carter
CHAPEL HILL - Since becoming the number one high school basketball player in the country, Adonis Carter has grown accustomed to being compared to others. His style of play greatly resembles that of LeBron James. His clutch factor has been linked to that of Michael Jordan; his mental fortitude to that of Kobe Bryant. As well, as soon as he committed to playing college ball at Duke University, his comparisons to Zion Williamson quickly grew as well.
However, for someone who has lived such a unique 19-years of life as Adonis has, that’s where the comparisons end.
He and his story is truly one-of-a-kind.
“I’m not one of these fiery guys that need to bring it every day to feel adequate, man, I just go out there and let the game come to me. Someone steps to me, barking too much, I keep my mouth shut, by the fourth quarter, I got 45 and he got a long bus ride home” he said when asked what he was like when it comes to trash talk.
Notably, Carter was never much of a confrontational youth, almost to a fault.
“When you grow up where I grew up [Compton, California], you learn not to bother nobody that you can’t take. Nowadays, everybody has a gun. I’ve never seen a man win a fight against a bullet personally, so I learned to just do your thing and mind your business.”
His father was in and out of prison for multiple drug charges before being arrested during Adonis’ sophomore year at Sierra Canyon High School on a manslaughter charge. He has been in prison ever since and won’t be up for parole until Adonis’ third season in the NBA.
“It was a tough situation that I try not to talk about. It was a bullsh*t altercation, and someone lost their life. He’s not a bad guy, and he’s not innocent. It was hard. It was hard.”
Carter stayed with his grandmother until early in his senior year, she passed away after a stroke. “I remember coming home to a bunch of ambulances at my front door. I had been away for a Gatorade camp, she was by herself as she usually was. Someone did a wellness check after not hearing from her.”
Carter was taken in by his coach, but was admittedly racked with grief.
“I didn’t know how to be myself anymore. I literally numbed out. I wouldn’t leave the house if it wasn’t for anything that wasn’t basketball-related. I wasn’t even excited to declare to Duke. It was always where I wanted to go, but that’s because my grandma wanted me to go there, my Dad had dreamt of me going there, to play for Coach K. It wasn’t until I left for school that I started to heal.”
Carter immediately starred for the Duke Blue Devils, inserting himself into a star-studded lineup that featured Cassius Stanley, Vernon Carey, Tre Jones, and Wendell Moore that quickly became the number one team in the country before the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the season.
Carter shook his head and smiled to himself. “The championship team that never was. You try not to look at it like we’ve got unresolved business. But, it’s unfortunate that that team never realized its true potential the way it should have been.”
Carter would average 26.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game on his way to becoming the Consensus National College Player of the Year as well as a Consensus All-American - the second consecutive Duke player to achieve both accolades after Zion Williamson.
“I did a lot of healing there, and once I started feeling better and acclimating to the culture in Durham, we really went on a roll. I’m in a much happier place nowadays.”
“Entering into the NBA draft was a no-brainer for me. As much as there is a lot of stuff I would like to stay at Duke and do, I know what I’ve been dreaming of since I was a child and the NBA is where I want to be.”
“Being the first overall pick would be an honour, joining that fraternity of guys that was recognized as the best option would be something else. But, for me, it’s not the end of the world if I’m not the number one pick” Carter added, as he is widely considered to be the number one pick.
The New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Golden State Warriors are the heavy favorites to land the number one pick in the upcoming NBA lottery, and Carter has no reservations about going to any of the three franchises.
“Joining a team that has guys like [Stephen] Curry and [Klay] Thompson would be something else, we would compete right away and I think I could help a dynasty like that keep things going.”
“Detroit has an illustrious history and they are gritty just like the community they represent, I feel like that would be a ‘home away from home’ for me. Plus, getting the opportunity to play with Derrick Rose, who was one of my favorite players on my come-up would be awesome.”
“The Knicks have struggled but it’s New York, man. Being the guy that goes in there and leads that new era, man. It’s enticing. I would be honored.”
For a 19-year old man, Adonis Carter has admittedly been through more than most adults have been through their entire lives. However, he wears it as a badge of honor.
“I was raised in the hood, with no mama, my dad is locked up, and my grandma passed, but I keep my head held high and I keep racing towards my goals. All I realized is that I’ve got an opportunity to do better.”
“There’s nowhere to go but up.”
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