The modern era of basketball is defined by athletic and mobile players that have the size of bigger forwards and centers, while also having the extreme ball skills of small guards. Carter Bryant out of Fountain Valley High School fits this mold of a "unicorn", similar to guys that people see on television every night. It's hard and not fair to project high-school players, however, Carter has already been receiving collegiate and national attention that gives him a great chance to become an extremely successful basketball player one day. This is a testament to the consistency and efforts that Carter has put into his game to truly separate himself thus far, and I do not foresee him stopping anytime soon after understanding what his future could hold. Carter is hungry, he says that he wants to be considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, a very bold statement, yet he is truly confident in the work he puts in. As I mentioned earlier, Carter is able to and willing to do anything on the basketball court, whether that means he has to score every single basket or dive on the loose ball. His offensive skillset is already well-recognized by many, but his willingness to do the little things is a good indicator of the very bright future he has ahead of him. I was fortunate to be able to interview one of the top 2024 players in the country.
INTERVIEW:
1. For those who don’t know you, can you give a brief summary about who you are and where you have played at?
Carter: "My name is Carter Bryant, 6’8, 230 pound, class of 2024 combo guard, and I am just a kid from Riverside, California that fell in love with the game of basketball and found it as the cure to all my situations. I have been playing since I was 4 years old locally and a bit of national AAU for Inland Force growing up. Until recently, I started playing for Paul George Elite on the EYBL circuit."
2. Outside of basketball, what are you passionate about? What do you spend time doing?
Carter: "Basketball is about it to be completely honest, but other than that, lifting weights and improving my body. I also love hanging out with my family and my girlfriend."
3. What is your recruitment process like, which schools were recruiting you the hardest?
Carter: "My recruitment process just has recently started to pick up with higher major schools reaching out lately. The schools that are recruiting me the heaviest as of now are University of Arizona, Long Beach St., University of Illinois and USC."
4. You had a great year this past season, what was that experience like for you?
Carter: "Great year would be a stretch. I would say I had an alright year. It was a great but rough finding my footing in HS basketball, which was harder than I though. The faster pace, physicality, guarding in more space, understanding scouting reports, were all fairly new to me so it was a rough transition playing-wise. However, the guys welcoming me into the family and supporting me was the easiest transition I’ve ever had. I built a bond that will last forever with my brothers on that team. We started as teammates and ended the season as family."
5. Which games and memories stand out to you the most from this past season?
Carter: "Playing Loyola High School in the first round of playoffs. Definitely. I got humbled and it lit a fire under me to get better and understand that high school basketball isn’t as easy as it looks. All these role players have to do their jobs really well, one to fifteen, and the coaching staff has to really be on the same page to make a deep playoff run."
6. Who was the toughest player or team you have played against in your career thus far?
Carter: "The toughest players were Brayden Burries, Roddie Anderson, and Liam McNeeley. The toughest teams were Loyola High School and Florida Rebels 16u."
7. Who is the most talented player you have played with so far?
Carter: "The toughest players I have played against are Brayden Burries, Jamari Phillips, and Isaiah Elohim."
8. Where do you play your AAU ball, and how did they help you along your journey
Carter: "Inland Force growing up, and they taught me how to play the game the right way and be effective with or without the ball, play the game the right way, be the most versatile player in the court at all times, and how to Defend 1-5. Most importantly, they taught me how to become a responsible and respectful young man. Currently I play on Paul George Elite (EYBL), they have taught me that you have to be on your "A-game" at all times, because everyone you play is 6’8 and 230 pounds on the EYBL circuit, so what will you do to set yourself apart from the rest of the guys? Also, that number next to your name on ESPN or 247 Sports doesn’t mean anything."
9. What are you looking for when committing to a college?
Carter: "When committing to a college I want to go somewhere where from the fifteenth man on the bench, all the way to the equipment managers are in the same page. Somewhere where guys understand how to put the work in seven days a week and want to get better everyday on and off the court, along with a coaching staff that tells you your flaws as a player and human, pushing you to your limits to be the best version of yourself. Lastly, a school with winning history and a school I can network at, because you never know who you may run into from your alma mater, and everyone wants to see their alma mater succeed, so hopefully they would be willing to help."
10. Which player or team are you looking forward the most to playing against next year?
Carter: "Whoever we’re matched up against! I don’t know our schedule for next year, so that’s why I say that. But team I would say are, Mater Dei, Centennial, Sierra Canyon, whoever! I know my brothers are going to go to war with me."
11. What was your favorite NBA team and player growing up?
Carter: "My favorite team was the Suns. They were so fun to watch with Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire , Shawn Marion, Jason Richardson, Grant Hill, Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, Goran Dragic. They were a fun team to watch. My favorite players were Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Brandon Roy, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, but Kobe Specifically."
12. What are you looking to improve on and show scouts/coaches that you have improved on going into your junior season?
Carter: "I want to show coaches thatI can win at every level, and that I compete every play, along with showing confidence when I play offensively."
13. What is your end goal for basketball?
Carter: "To be honest, to become the greatest basketball player of all-time, but everyone has their opinion, so to just be in that conversation would be a blessing."
14. What do you think is the most valuable skill in basketball?
Carter: "Someone that competes all forty-eight minutes, and players that perfect their role on the court."
15. What makes you unique from other basketball players?
Carter: "I’m going to make every play possible to win, and I know I won’t be out-hustled. I know no one wants it more than me so I’m going to give it my all every time I step out on the floor. Sometimes that results in two points or fifty points. However, I’m going to control the things I can, like my effort, speaking life into my teammates, communicating, etc."
16. What is your schedule like right now as you prepare for next year?
Carter: "I wake up for school at 5:45-6:00, go to school from 8:00-1:26. Do my homework in the trainers room while I get treatment. 2:00-5:00 practice, and get my individual work in after practice. Go to the Draft Sports Facility to Workout for another hour and a half, then lift weights to end my day at around 7pm."
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