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Robert Carter

Robert Carter profile
RCSI: 29 (2012)
Height: 6'9" (206 cm)
Weight: 251 lbs (114 kg)
Position: PF/C
High School: Shiloh High School (Georgia)
Hometown: Thomasville, GA
College: Maryland
Current Team: Anyang KGC
Win - Loss: 15 - 33
Robert Carter 2016 Pre-Draft Workout - DraftExpress Exclusive

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Robert Carter Updated NBA Draft Scouting Report

Josh Riddell
Josh Riddell
Jun 07, 2016, 10:22 am
Josh Riddell

Starting his career at Georgia Tech, Robert Carter transferred upon the conclusion of his sophomore season to Maryland, where he became an integral part of their Sweet Sixteen team after sitting out his mandatory redshirt year. Averaging 19.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted as a redshirt junior, the 22 year old Carter certainly has much of what NBA teams are looking for in a modern power forward who can also see minutes as a small-ball center.

Blessed with outstanding overall scoring instincts, Carter has the ability to stretch the floor offensively, displaying solid mechanics and a high level of confidence as a shooter. You would expect Carter's jump shooting percentages to be higher based on the eye test, but he wasn't able to achieve the high level of consistency needed for him to be a threat. He made just 33.3% of his 3.5 three point attempts per 40 minutes pace adjusted last season and is just a 29.7% long distance shooter over his three year collegiate career. He will have to show he is capable of being a high percentage shooter from the mid-range and NBA three point line to realize his full offensive potential, even if his soft touch indicates he should be able to do so in time.

Measured at 6'8” with a strong 7'3” wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine, he should have little issue matching up with opposing stretch big man, as he is as strong and long as most centers, even if he's a tad undersized. He has a nice mixture of physical tools, moving well for his size around the court with above average quickness and lateral movement. He does lack elite explosiveness and leaping ability, turning him into a primarily below the rim player.

His frame is a little susceptible to weight gains with his weight fluctuating from 245 pounds to 280 pounds since our first measurement in 2010. He has since slimmed down a bit, currently listed at 251 pounds with 12.5% body fat, one of the higher measurements at the combine. He needs to be careful to not add too much excess weight and lose his agility in the half-court that can give him an edge over his opponent, which will require the discipline to maintain his currently improved conditioning level.

To complement his perimeter shooting, Carter is efficient inside the arc, posting a 62.4% two point field goal percentage. He has displayed soft touch around the rim on offensive rebound putbacks and layups off dump off passes. He can back smaller players down on the block for a hook shot, but isn't yet someone who can reliably score against players his size.

He's also an improving creator off the dribble and is able to attack the rim from the mid-range. Straight line driving mainly to his right, Carter has some good footwork with the ball as he can step away from his defender and even flashed a spin move to get past his man. He sometimes settles for floaters seven to eight feet from the rim instead of driving all the way to the rim, but he did display some touch on these attempts.

His 2.9 assists were the third highest among power forwards in our top 100 and he has been able to keep his head up on drives to find his teammates. This gives him an offensive skill set comprised of the ability to shoot, drive and pass that NBA teams are craving from their modern big man.

One of his biggest areas of improvement offensively is learning to play more within his skill set. He has a tendency to try to do too much, which puts him out of control and leads to turnovers or offensive fouls. Learning his limits to reduce his 3.3 turnovers per 40 minutes pace adjusted will be key as he makes the adjustment to the next level.

Although he doesn't put up elite rebounding numbers playing away from the rim, Carter is certainly willing to contribute on the glass, bringing down 2.6 offensive rebounds and 8.2 defensive rebounds per 40 minutes pace adjusted. Although he doesn't have the leaping ability to meet the ball at its peak, his length, plus his agility and timing allows him to chase down loose balls which should help him to be a productive rebounder throughout his career.

Defensively, Carter has some potential, but has a ways to go in this area, which may ultimately decide whether he's able to carve out a NBA niche, and to what extent. He moves his feet well but does not have great fundamentals and can be susceptible to taking plays off on this end of the floor, playing too straight up and limiting his lateral quickness. Teams are likely going to ask him to guard perimeter forwards and switch on action outside the three point line, primarily ball screens, so Carter will have to be willing to accept this defensive role with a higher level of energy to move his feet to stay in front of dribble penetration.

His conditioning level will be key throughout his career as Carter played less than thirty minutes per game in each of his collegiate seasons. He can tire easily at times which can lead to some mistakes or some lazy moments. With his expected NBA role, he will need to be maximize his physical tools to help him stay engaged on both ends.

He uses his length and instincts well defensively, with a good mix of statistical production at 1.3 steals and 1.9 blocks per 40 minutes pace adjusted to go along with his solid defensive rebounding numbers. He utilizes his agility to force turnovers and is a strong player who isn't going to get moved out of the way very often. If he can become more adept at guarding the perimeter, he can develop into a very productive, versatile defender.

Carter certainly has the look of a NBA big man with his impressive length, scoring instincts and solid mobility. The first step for him to break into a NBA rotation is to show he can be a consistent jump shooter and prove he can defend his position adequately. If he can do that while staying on top of his conditioning level, he has an excellent collection of skills that NBA teams value and he should be able to be productive within his role.

Robert Carter 2016 NBA Pre-Draft Workout and Interview Video

Jim Hlavac
Jim Hlavac
May 19, 2016, 01:14 pm
We joined Robert Carter as he worked out in Los Angeles in preparation for the 2016 NBA Draft, and discussed a number of topics with him, including his season at Maryland, what he's trying to improve on in the short-term and what he feels he can bring to a NBA team.


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NBA Combine Competitive Action Recap: Day One

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
May 12, 2016, 09:48 pm
Robert Carter, Junior, PF/C, Maryland
22 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 4 steals, 1 block, 6 fouls, 6-12 2P, 2-3 3P, 26.5 minutes

Robert Carter may have helped himself as much as any other player to participate in Thursday's 5-on-5 scrimmages. The 22-year-old big man showed his versatile offensive skill set, knocking down pick and pop jumpers out to 3-point range, putting the ball on the deck, scoring with jump hooks in the post and competing defensively and on the glass. Carter showed flashes of offensive brilliance during his junior year at Maryland, but with a glut of big men and a very talented overall roster, he was a bit inconsistent in his production. At 6' 8.5” with a 7' 3.25” wingspan Carter fits the ‘pass, dribble, shoot' mold that teams are looking for in today's NBA. While Carter shined on the offensive end on Thursday, he still has a ways to go defensively.

Weighing as much as 280 pounds during his two years at Georgia Tech, Carter has done a great job slimming down to 251 pounds and 12.5% body fat, but he still has a ways to go before becoming an adequate perimeter and ball screen defender. All in all Carter most certainly showed his NBA value in front of all 30 teams, and should be considered a solid second-round prospect moving forward.

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 NBA Draft Prospect TV Schedule: Thursday

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mar 23, 2016, 03:47 pm
The matchup to watch from a NBA perspective is at the power forward position, where Ellis will match up with second round prospects Robert Carter (#57) and Jake Layman (#50). Carter is a long and bulky big man with an impressive skill-level, capable of scoring inside on the block or from behind the 3-point line, but is extremely limited defensively. His ability to slow down Ellis will not only play a big factor in this contest, it will also present a major opportunity for Carter to prove to NBA scouts that he is not as much of a defensive liability as people think.

USA Basketball U19 World Championship Training Camp Report

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Jun 17, 2013, 05:04 pm
Robert Carter was actually one of the most skilled big men at this training camp, even if his deficiencies in other areas gave other participants at his position an edge in terms of the style of play the coaching staff was looking to implement.

Carter can put the ball in the basket from anywhere on the floor, as he can shoot the ball from the perimeter (even out to the 3-point line), attack his opponent off the dribble, or operate with his back to the basket with smooth footwork and a variety of fakes and spin-moves, even making some interesting passes from time to time out of the high or low post. He has excellent instincts on this end of the floor, to go along with soft hands and reliable touch, making him a real mismatch threat at this stage of his development as a modern day power forward.

Unfortunately, Carter also has his fair share of weaknesses, many of which are correctable, but are not in line with this team's philosophy. For one, he showed up significantly out of shape, as it didn't take long until the altitude of Colorado Springs took the wind out of him. His intensity level in general leaves a lot to be desired, as you regularly see him jogging up and down the court lackadaisically, not having too many qualms about getting beat up the floor by opposing big men. His defense and rebounding weren't up to par with some of the other big men in this setting, largely due to his average motor.

All in all, Carter is a prospect NBA teams will certainly be monitoring to see how he continues to progress. His offensive skill-level at the power forward position makes him a unique prospect, but he will have to make a commitment to bringing more effort and paying attention to the other parts of his game if he's to reach his full potential as a basketball player.

Boost Mobile Elite 24: Interviews (Part One)

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Jim Hlavac
Jim Hlavac
Richard Walker
Richard Walker
Sep 25, 2011, 11:39 pm

Boost Mobile Elite 24: Scouting Reports (Part One)

Matt Williams
Matt Williams
Sep 06, 2011, 12:24 pm
Matt Williams

One of the most skilled big men at the Boost Mobile Elite 24, Robert Carter (#18 Scout, #21 ESPN, #28 Rivals) is a wide bodied power forward who can score both inside and out.

Standing 6'8, Carter has good size for the four spot, but his frame still has room for improvement. He's carrying around some excess weight which limits his speed and leaping ability, but should have plenty of time to improve his physique in the coming years.

Carter may not be a terribly explosive athlete, but he's one of the more instinctive scorers in the 2012 class, in the mold of Trey Thompkins. He flashes the ability to step out of the perimeter and knock down mid-range jumpers, but appears equally as comfortable using his strong frame around the rim, where he displays smooth footwork and impressive body control. On a few notable occasions, Carter even flashed a knack for using ball-fakes to put the ball on the floor and create his own shot from the midrange, which is something you don't see every day from big men his age.

At the basket, Carter has terrific hands and uses a combination of touch, footwork, and strength to score. He was one of the more polished one-on-one interior players at the Boost Mobile Elite 24, but struggled at times when asked to finish in traffic around the more athletic big men he was matched up with.

Defensively, Carter displays terrific timing and, but his lack of great quickness and leaping ability limits the impact he makes against more athletic competition around the rim. Carter's strength helps him hold position on the block, but his current build won't help him step out and defend the perimeter.

While the Georgia native is not going to wow anyone with his athleticism at the next level, he has a unique skill set for a player his age. With improved conditioning, Carter should be an impact player in college who will surely draws looks from NBA scouts by the time his collegiate days are over.

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