Jevon Carter is a blessing for WVU basketball team

Jevon Carter had a legitimate chance to make it in professional basketball after the 2016-17 season.

The WVU basketball team saw its season come to and end in the Sweet 16 against Gonzaga. That could have been Jevon Carter’s final game with the Mountaineers.

It was a heartbreaking 61-58 defeat to Jordan Mathews and the Bulldogs. The back-and-forth affair was one of the better basketball games of the NCAA Tournament season.

Jevon Carter knocked down a 3-pointer with around one minute remaining in regulation to give the WVU basketball team a lead by three points. It would be his last basket, though. Carter had a chance to be the hero on the Mountaineers’ final possession, but he couldn’t get the shot off.

It was an embarrassing moment for Carter and the Mountaineers. The chance to tie the game was blown several times, and Cater even admitted so in the postgame press conference. He was ridiculed on social media for that decision.

But being the honorable player and man he is Carter was able to brush himself off and stand up for himself.

"“Yeah, that was a mistake on my behalf,” he said. “I knew they had a lot of guys at the top. I should have drove it to the basket, but knowing it was a 3-point game, I tried to go for the 3, since I’d been hitting. But if I’m in that position again I’ll take it to the basket.”"

That play could have defined Carter’s WVU basketball career. It would have been a shame if that was the case. Jevon Carter did far more good than harm for head coach Bob Huggins and his teammates these past three seasons.

He is one of the best defenders in the country and he is one of the most unselfish players Huggins has ever coached. Carter led the team with 114 assists and 59 steals a year ago. On top of that, he averaged almost 10 points a game when his primary objective is to run the offense, not particular to lead it in scoring.

His overall skills are recognized by his teammates and everyone in the Big 12. Recently, he garnered the proper national attention he deserved.

TheBigLead.com ranked Carter as the 24th best college basketball player for 2017-18.

https://t.co/SzQTo6uoRr An amazing honor even though 24th doesn't do him justice. Deserved to be much much lower!
— Bob Huggins (@CoachHuggs) August 10, 2017

The website said, “(Carter) emerged as a reliable shooter for the Mountaineers last year scoring 13.5 ppg and hitting 39 percent of his 3-pointers. Dropped 24 on Notre Dame and 21 on Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament. Was the Big 12 defensive player of the year.”

He was the highest ranked player in the Big 12. The top overall player is Missouri freshman Michael Porter, according to the website.

Carter’s best decision in is basketball career was not only coming to West Virginia to play for Coach Huggs, but also remaining in Morgantown for one more year.

He has a chance to go down in history as one of the best point guards of all time. All of Mountaineer Nation is blessed for his determination and loyalty.

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