The rise and fall of former high school phenom Aquille Carr has been meteoric, from once being a YouTube sensation and one of the most prized HS recruits in the 2013 Class, committing to Seton Hall, then getting involved in a domestic dispute with his baby mama, and eventually taking his talents overseas, rather than play college ball.
It appeared as if his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA, despite his rather diminutive 5’7 frame, was becoming a pipe dream as he faded out of the NCAA landscape, playing on the Legends Tour in Europe alongside Allen Iverson and “White” Chocolate” Jason Williams.
The route less taken has been done before, as current Detroit Pistons standout Brandon Jennings once was the top rated HS player in the nation, but played a season in Europe before being drafted #10 in the 2009 NBA Draft.
But Carr may now have been given a 2nd chance of one day playing in the Association as the Philadelphia 76ers’ D-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers, have selected the highlight reel point guard in the 2nd Round of the 2013 NBA Developmental Draft.
While in China, Carr had been given some advice by former NBA superstar Tracy McGrady, who was acting as his de facto agent overseas, to not give up and keep following his dreams, by getting back to the states and coincidentally back on the NBA’s radar.
Carr is one of three players that the 87ers selected that are still eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft, a route that was taken this past season by Glen Rice Jr, who followed up winning a D-League Championship, by getting selected in the 2nd Round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Sixers, then was traded to the Wizards.
The player once known as the “Crimestopper” in the inner city of Baltimore will be joined by fellow highly touted players 6’10 big man Norvel Pelle and 6’7 forward Athanasios Antetokounmpo, the brother of 2013 Lottery pick Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.
Suiting up and playing in the D-League against much more quality competition than overseas, all three players will be given the chance with ample playing time of proving themselves worthy of being an NBA player, possibly as early as next season.
After all, it’s been a growing trend of NBA teams taking notice of D-League talent as there have been a number of former D-League standouts to make their mark on the highest level like Jeremy Lin(Rockets), Danny Green(Spurs), and Reggie Jackson(Thunder).
Former Arizona star freshman Grant Jerrett was selected #1 overall in the 2013 NBA D-League Draft.
Aquille Carr 2013 Overseas Highlights:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
