Georgia big man Wendell Carter JR is a prized recruit because he’s one of the most dedicated players in the Class of 2017, both on the court and off it.
First you have the usual basketball powerhouses that every top recruit rightfully considers: Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, UNC. Then there are the local in-state programs: Georgia and Georgia Tech. And then there’s Harvard and CalBerkeley—two of the top academic schools in the nation, but not ones known for basketball dominance.
“I had to get at least an A in every class since elementary school,” says Carter of how academics ended up playing a role in his recruitment. “My grades were always up to par, but just in case I ever lost focus, my mom established that rule as a reminder.”
What happened if he didn’t reach the minimum?
“I wasn’t allowed to play basketball unless my grades were up to par,” he admits. “As I got older, it got a little more lenient. But that kind of ingrained it in my head that I have to be just as good in the classroom as I am on the court.”
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