Currently slotted at the end of the first round in our latest aggregate mock draft, Carlton Carrington has started to gain momentum as he has moved up in a lot of boards. Only playing one season at Pittsburgh, Carrington opted to turn pro and will stay in the draft.
In Chicago at the Combine, he talked with HoopsHype about his lone season at Pittsburgh, his strengths and weaknesses, his mentors, and more.
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Carlton Carrington: It was different, you know, trying to get used to something like that. Everywhere I went, whether it was a new high school, I was never really looked at to fill big shoes. Obviously, there it was different. It was kind of going into the fire right away. Overall, I appreciate every opportunity that I was given and I feel like I made the most out of them.
CC: It was more just a confidence thing. I was in my head, trying to do things outside of myself, listening to people I shouldn’t have. But once I got back to where I was, back to my process, my game, it showed.
CC: I would say understanding the game from a different perspective. Coming from a high school league where I didn’t have to really think through plays like, you know, I just get the ball and score. Now, I really think about the game. I have a 25-year-old that can shoot, and a 21-year-old that can catch. It’s about understanding different roles and how to maneuver with an older team.
Obviously, that’s what I have to get used to trying to get to this next level.
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CC: I feel like my defense is so underrated. I can really guard, but it’s not really talked about. I’m not a flashy defender. I’m not going to make extreme plays, but if you need someone to stop a scorer, I’m the one to do that.
CC: Obviously, the weight room is important, but I would say more like the discipline part of everything. You realize this is going to become your job. I don’t have to wake up early and go to school. I can focus on how to get better today to perform in front of people. So I feel like just that discipline, maturing and getting into that mindset where I’m not just trying to be a pro, I’m trying to be a professional.
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CC: I would say one of my mentors is Carmelo Anthony. I played on his team, I’ve played at Melo Center. We’ve been talking a lot more recently, [he’s] telling me more about how to maneuver, how to handle things. He has helped me a lot.
CC: Someone asked me what position I play, and I said point guard. But that’s not all I’m limited to. I feel like the biggest part of my game is my versatility. I can play one, two, and three sometimes, so it doesn’t really matter to me. As long as I can be on the court, I can contribute.
