Jevon Carter gaining preseason notoriety around the country
Jevon Carter could have a magical season for the WVU basketball team in 2017-18.
His output won’t be some sort of secret formula, though. His work ethic and ability on the court is well documented around Morgantown and now the national media is taking notice of what he can do for his team.
This week, Jevon Carter was named to Oscar Robertson Trophy Preseason Watch List. He is one of 32 players to get this mention, according to Connect Bridgeport. Also this week, Carter found out he is one of 39 players on the Lute Olson Award Watch List.
On both of those lists is another competitor from the Big 12 Conference: Devonte Graham of Kansas. It’s likely that Graham and Carter will be in the running for Big 12 Player of the Year. Graham and Carter are both seniors and they each had similar paths to stardom.
They both were fairly unheralded prospects coming out of high school. Their development and transformation into team leaders happened gradually throughout their respective careers at Kansas and West Virginia. Graham was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, which should only fuel Carter more to make this season one of the best in WVU basketball history.
Related Story: Bob Huggins signs extension with Mountaineers
Carter made the SI.com All-American honorable mention list, while also being named the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Graham found himself on that list’s second team. These two will be carrying the conference as the Big 12 looks to be down in talent, compared to its former consistent competitive nature.
The Mountaineers and Jayhawks play each other twice in the regular season with the game in Morgantown happening Jan. 15 and the game in Lawrence, Kansas coming on Feb. 17. It’s a great possibility that these two teams may also meet in the Big 12 Championship Game in early March.
The individual awards likely mean nothing to Carter as he is working his hardest to lift the WVU basketball team to heights it has never seen before. The individual accolades should, however, add fire to his competitive spirit and help him dig deep to play to the best of his ability.
Next: SI.com ranks WVU basketball No. 11
This season could come down to Kansas and West Virginia in a number of different ways. Jevon Carter and Devonte Graham both will let the nation know who rules the roost in the Big 12 Conference.