By CHARLIE PARENT
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Carter Bryant, a five-star Arizona commit in the class of 2024, showcased a next-level ability to create separation, versatility, and intangibles in Corona Centennial’s (CA.) 73-71 loss to Archbishop Wood (PA.) at Saturday’s coveted HoopHall Classic.
The 6-foot-8 wing dropped 16 points and grabbed 11 boards on the game, while playing strong defense on five-star Miami commit Jalil Bethea.
“I want to play at the highest level,” Bryant told ZAGSBLOG postgame. “I feel like I could be in the position to be a top-three draft pick down the line. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win because at the highest level they want winners.”
“All the top guys can make one-dribble pull-ups, make catch-and-shoot threes,” he concluded. “It’s just a matter of who’s going to separate themselves from the intangibles: talking, being in the passing lanes, boxing out. I want to separate myself within those things.”
Bryant takes a simple approach in his scoring game, following NBA superstars while trusting his own footwork and confidence in his ability to create separation, even when shots aren’t falling.
“If you look at guys like Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Lebron James, they play the game at a high level, but all the things they do are simple and stringing together moves you can do every day,” he said. “It’s just keeping the game simple and allowing your footwork to speed up with you. But I still have to make shots and good reads, things of that nature.”
Bryant has been keeping track of Arizona’s season thus far and is ready to contribute in whatever ways he can next season.
“It’s been a really good season for us so far,” he said. “I’m just ready to do whatever coach [Tommy] Lloyd and the coaches ask me to do.”
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