Senior finds God and is at peace with his role

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Senior Jared Carter will celebrate Senior Day on Wednesday against Georgia. He is the only senior on the roster. Photo by Emily Coovert | Staff
Jared Carter didn’t know why he was at UK.

That might sound weird considering Carter is over seven-feet tall and was an All-State basketball player at Scott County High School in 2005.

But that Jared Carter averaged 16 points and nine rebounds a game while setting a state-record 200 blocks. The current Jared Carter has never scored more than six points in a game during his four years in Lexington.

And to make matters worse, Carter injured his right shoulder three times in a matter of a year. But then something happened — Carter joined teammate Ramon Harris and Athletes in Action on a trip to Mali, Africa. The trip, which consisted of a four-nation tournament, opened Carter’s eyes to life.

“I was really confused about life and God,” Carter said during Tuesday’s news conference. “It was one of the lowest points in my career, but that trip helped me find myself and God.”

While finding God in Africa, Carter also began to realize he was given certain gifts to help him in life. He said God gave him the gift of height and basketball skills to be happy and to continue playing after college.
Along with the gift of height, sophomore Josh Harrellson said Carter still has the potential to be one of the best post players in the nation.

“He’s hard working, a great teammate and a great person,” Harrellson said. “He’s just too nice sometimes on the court. If he was just a more aggressive player, he would be one of the best in the nation.”

Best in the nation is what Carter could have been — at least it looked that way four years ago. Carter was heavily recruited out of Scott County by UK, North Carolina, Illinois and Georgia Tech, and since his arrival at UK has heard the whispers from fans. Those whispers included everything from how he could get better as a player to how he was a waste of a scholarship, Carter said.

“You just don’t listen to the fans,” Carter said. “I just kind of heard it and brushed it aside. But UK does have great fans, and I didn’t realize that until I came to UK.”

Despite not having logged more than 16 minutes in a single game during his UK career, Carter will get his chance to shine — at least he thinks — on Wednesday night during Senior Night against Georgia.

Carter said he thinks he’ll get the chance to start for the Cats — something he’s never done before — but UK head coach Billy Gillispie refused to reveal any secrets.

“Well, we did it last year,” Gillispie said. “I started Joe (Crawford) and Ramel (Bradley), so we’ll see what happens.”

Carter also said there’s not a chance he will cry during the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home.”  Harrellson however, sees it differently.

“He’s going to cry,” Harrellson said. “It’s guaranteed. You will see tears.”