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Maryland Basketball: NBA Draft Combine primer

By Chris Bengel

Dec 19, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins Robert Carter and Jake Layman and Melo Trimble and Rasheed Sulaimon (left to right) huddle before a free throw against the Princeton Tigers at Royal Farms Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins Robert Carter and Jake Layman and Melo Trimble and Rasheed Sulaimon (left to right) huddle before a free throw against the Princeton Tigers at Royal Farms Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Robert Carter (4) shoots a three-point shot over Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) during the second half at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Illinois Fighting Illini 81-55. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2016; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins forward Robert Carter (4) shoots a three-point shot over Illinois Fighting Illini forward Michael Finke (43) during the second half at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Illinois Fighting Illini 81-55. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Robert Carter

Carter was supposed to be a two-year player off the transfer market, but he shocked everyone when he hired an agent and entered the 2016 NBA Draft. The Georgia native did put together a fairly strong junior campaign at Maryland and is clearly a very offensively gifted forward.

Carter spent the first two seasons of his collegiate level at Georgia Tech. The former Yellow Jacket averaged 10.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in his two years at Georgia Tech while shooting 45.6 percent from the field. While he didn’t shoot a ton of threes, his 27.4 percent clip wasn’t his team any favors. Upon arriving in College Park, Carter’s game did elevate to the next level. He averaged 12.3 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 55.4 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (both career highs). One of his most popular post moves was a hook shot from close range. If Carter found himself with just one defender guarding him down low, he’d oftentimes utilize the popular shot and hit it with regularity.

One of the biggest areas that Carter could’ve used another year to work on is his defense. While he does possess the quickness to stay with several forwards at the collegiate level, he could get lost in one-on-one spacing once in the NBA. Carter can shoot the basketball from the perimeter, but relies on that ability more often than he should. He is more effective as a midrange shooter and will have to incorporate that as a majority of his jump shots.

Next: Maryland Football: Opportunity to make a statement in prime-time

Carter is an offensively gifted forward that has the most to gain from the Combine. The junior forward is going to rely on his quickness and shooting ability at the NBA level. He’s a fringe second round pick at the moment, though he was not included in the latest DraftExpress mock draft. If he can impress some NBA scouts this week, Carter may be able to hear his name called and be a bargain for a franchise.