Michael Carter III to Transfer

Michael Carter III announced via twitter tonight that he is receiving his release from the team and will be transferring. Carter III was the first recruit to commit to Mike Hopkins at Washington but it appears his time at UW lasted almost exactly one year.

Carter III averaged 1.3 points in 7.4 minutes per game over 17 contests as the backup point guard to David Crisp. He missed 11 games in the middle of the season due to a broken hand which cost him a chance to assert himself in the rotation. He returned at Washington State and played 3 games in a row of 13+ minutes per game. However, it appears that Hopkins gradually lost confidence in the freshman and Carter III played only 1 minute over the final 5 games of the season.

The 6’4 combo guard out of O’Dea was a 2-star recruit coming out of high school and originally committed to the University of San Francisco which was his only listed offer at the time. He was viewed as a shooting guard but Hopkins decided to have him play at the point, a decision which became easier after Nate Pryor failed to become eligible in the same class leaving Washington with 0 true point guards on the roster.

It could be unrelated but Carter III tweeted out a few days ago “Can’t catch a break 1 time”. If that was due to Hopkins making it clear that Carter III wouldn’t have a chance to secure a role in the future it suggests that something changed between now and the end of the season. But with PG Elijah Hardy coming in and David Crisp as the incumbent starter it was tough to imagine MC3 playing much of a role this year no matter what.

Carter III’s transfer either puts the Huskies at neutral on scholarships or leaves them still over by 1 depending upon whether Ed Chang remains in the Class of 2018. It has been assumed that Bitumba Baruti would also transfer and if that still happens it would make space either for Chang or another recruit/transfer.

By all accounts, Carter III was one of the hardest workers on the team and he was renowned for staying late after home games to get up shots after the game. It’s a shame we only got 1 year to get to know him and only half of a year at that. We wish MC3 all the best wherever he ends up. Thank you Michael.

***
You can follow me @UWDP_maxvroom for all your Husky Men’s Basketball News and Notes