Wendell Carter Jr.

Carter is an American center who has established himself as a reliable interior presence since being selected in the top 10 of the 2018 draft. A McDonald's All-American and National Player of the Year in high school, he has developed into a modern big man with shooting range and defensive versatility.

Born Wendell Andre Carter Jr. on April 16, 1999, he attended Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. As a sophomore, he averaged 21.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 4.1 blocks. As a junior, he averaged 21.6 points and 13.6 rebounds and led Pace to the 2016 Georgia class AA state championship with 30 points and 20 rebounds in the final. As a senior, he averaged 22.7 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks and led Pace to the Georgia class 3A state championship. He was named Georgia All-Classification Player of the Year, Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year, and Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, which recognizes student-athletes with outstanding character, leadership, and academics. He maintained a 3.8 GPA.

Carter was rated a five-star recruit and the No. 1 power forward in the 2017 class. He committed to Duke over Harvard. As a freshman, he averaged 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds alongside Marvin Bagley III. He scored a career-high 27 points against Evansville on December 20, 2017. He declared for the 2018 NBA draft.

The Chicago Bulls selected Carter seventh overall in the 2018 NBA draft. He was traded to the Orlando Magic in 2021, where he has established himself as a starting center with three-point range and interior presence.

Carter functions as a modern center with soft touch around the rim, three-point shooting, and the ability to defend multiple positions. His Duke tenure showcased a player willing to sacrifice individual stats for team success. In the NBA, his development centers on three-point volume, defensive consistency, and providing interior scoring and rebounding for a contending team.