Mitchell Carter ready to take game to SEC

Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, Wis., is no stranger to sending guys to the Division I level and 7-foot, 280-pound center Mitchell Carter was ready to be the next guy in line to move onto the next level. The three-star center verbally committed to a SEC program over the weekend.

According to Rufus King head coach Jim Gosz, Carter verbally committed to South Carolina on Sunday evening.

"Mitchell wanted to be wanted and in dealing with recruiting for as long as I have, you know guys are serious when they come in early and South Carolina did that," Gosz said. "Coach (Dave) Odom always wanted him. It wasn't like he lost out on a kid from New York City and decided to look at Mitchell as his second option. They always wanted him. They told him that he was their number one option.

"When you have a head coach in your gym two times in one week then you know that they are really interested."

Carter is the third player to commit to a Divison I program this year from Rufus King. Troy Cotton committed to Wisconsin Green Bay. Leneal Harris is headed to Wisconsin Milwaukee.

For South Carolina, Carter is the fourth player to commit in 2006. He joins Chad Gray, Austin Steed and Brandis Raley. Gosz believes Carter is still not at his highest level of basketball yet.

"He's a sponge for learning. You talk about kids that come on early on in their careers and have it all figured out over time but Mitchell hasn't. He hasn't even reached the level of player he is going to be," Gosz said. "He takes it personal and works hard to make improvements by the day. It's just the tip of the iceberg."

Gosz said Carter is headed in the right direction after his showing on the AAU circuit.

"Over the summer his stock really blew up and I think a lot of it had to do with his strength and conditioning," Gosz said. "It put him on a different level."

Carter will be in South Carolina for the Beach Ball Classic once again in December. He played in the event as a sophomore.