Four-star PG Carton breaks down contenders
WAUKEGAN, Ill. – DJ Carton first stepped onto the national scene this summer as he emerged as a Rivals150 prospect with his Quad City Elite travel unit. During his time this past weekend at the NY2LA Futures Camp, the four-star guard has continued to make strides.
A 6-foot-2 lead guard that has no issues creating his own shot, the lefty sports a well-rounded skillset and toughness that should make an immediate contributor. Carton updated which teams are in the hunt for his services this weekend.
“I feel like Iowa has talked to me a lot; they really want me. Michigan has shown a lot of interest in me,” he said. “I have always been talking to Wisconsin and we have built a really good relationship. Some other schools that have been contacting me consistently are Indiana, Virginia and Wake Forest a little, but we will have to see about what Ayo (Dosunmu) decides. Those are the schools that have been mainly talking to me.”
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Iowa: “I really love Iowa. I went down there for their football game against Penn State. The atmosphere was something else. It is a special place. They take their sports very seriously there. I really like the coaching staff. They are all really good guys that I connect with well, and the players, too.”
Michigan: “It is an honor to have John Beilein, who is a prestigious coach, to recruit me. You could just tell that he is down to earth. He is one of the best at what he does. It is an honor for them to show some interest in me. I went down to their practice and they have a lot of athleticism and are a very physical team, so it should be fun to watch them play this year.”
Wisconsin: “I have been talking to them for pretty much two years now. They just play basketball the right way, which is what I like, since that is the type of player that I am. The coaching staff, I get along great with them, and they aren’t just about making me a better player but also a better person.”
Indiana: “I started talking to one of their coaches and he showed some interest in me and they said that they are going to start recruiting me hard since he said that they need a player like me. A lot of great guards have gone to Indiana, so it is just an honor to be on that stage with them. I will probably end up visiting there soon and check the campus out and see how it goes.”
Virginia: “When I first heard from them, I was kind of like, ‘How did they hear about me?’ But I like them a lot. They play really good defense and are one of the best defensive teams in the country, which is what I kind of focus on at my high school. I really appreciate them recruiting me. I will probably go down their next spring since it is kind of far, but I definitely want to schedule a visit for there.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Carton will complete his unofficial visit to Creighton on Tuesday before heading to Minnesota on Saturday for another unofficial trip.
Recently visiting Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin, Carton will visit a few other local programs this winter as a number of other scholarship offers are expected.
RIVALS’ REACTION
One of top guard prospects from the Midwest in the 2019 class, Carton has shown that he is capable of putting his team on his back. He's a lefty with a strong frame, a quality playmaking acumen, an excellent feel and IQ for the game, and a competitive mindset.
Carton will be a Big Ten priority recruit from here on out as many other quality programs are expected to jump into the mix. Iowa will do its best to keep the in-state talent at home, though Wisconsin, a program that has recruited him for the longest, may be the early favorite.