NBA

Record-Setting High School Scorer Carter Still Chasing NBA Dream

After scoring a record 7,457 points in high school, Tweety Carter is still chasing his NBA dream.

Alan Draper profile picture
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287 treys.

7,457 points.

Tweety Carter set the records for most most three-point shots made in a single season and points scored by a U.S. high school player over his varsity career. Nearly 10 years later, with those accolades behind him, Carter is still chasing a mark he has yet to reach – becoming an NBA player.

Growing up, the buckets dropped effortlessly for Carter. He attended the Reserve Christian School in Louisiana. The establishment was K-12, which afforded Carter the opportunity to begin playing varsity basketball earlier than the traditional freshman year format. He estimates there were 100 students in the entire school and only 18 in his senior class.

Carter began his seventh grade year on junior varsity. But when the varsity team struggled, his coach gave him the nod. He recalls scoring 21 points in his first varsity game as a seventh grader.

“As soon as I touched the ball, I shot it and made it. I went crazy,” the point guard told Basketball Insiders. “It took off from there. The next game I had 31 points. I shot on a gun all day. Once I started scoring, it made me excited.”

His coach encouraged him to become an offensive powerhouse. Carter adopted the mentality of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball. The gym became his second home. The work he put in was paying off. He once scored 74 points in a single game.

Carter began attending Nike Camps in eighth grade. He remembers being one of the youngest players there and competing against Monta Ellis and Lou Williams. Back in school, he led his team to multiple state championships, was named Outstanding Player of the Year in Louisiana five times and was selected as a McDonald’s All-American.

Carter’s role changed when he moved on to play college basketball at Baylor University. The team didn’t need him to drop 50 points. Instead, they needed him to be a presence on the opposite end.

“My freshman year in college, we had Curtis Jerrells on the team as the point guard,” he said. “He was a heck of a scorer, just like me. I had to get on the floor somehow. Coach wanted me to be a defensive player my freshman year. Not saying don’t focus on scoring, but we need defense. I wanted to play, so I’d do whatever it takes to win. That’s what I had to do.”

Following four years at Baylor, in which he averaged 15 points as a senior, Carter went undrafted in 2010. He played for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League before making a career overseas. Carter most recently suited up for SO Maritime Boulogne in France.

This month he participated in the Las Vegas Summer League for his hometown New Orleans Pelicans. He played sparingly, a total of five minutes over two games.

In spite of his limited role, he thought back to how his teammates supported him in high school and embraced the opportunity to be on the Summer League squad.

“I had a team that I didn’t have to worry about anybody questioning what I do, I didn’t have to worry about anybody being jealous, it just balanced out,” Carter said. “It made me a better person. It made me understand if these guys could appreciate me, if I’m ever in their position, I could appreciate other guys. I can’t allow myself to sit on the bench and be mad, because my teammates didn’t do that to me. I’m supportive, I’m willing to do whatever I need to do.”

Carter’s overseas experience has made his game more well-rounded. He was more of a distributor playing in Israel, whereas other teams he played for focused on scoring. Carter still wants to be aggressive on offense and is willing to adapt to the needs of an organization.

“At the end of the day, it’s about those 15 guys that put the uniform on every night, coming in banging for 82-plus games,” he said. “I’m going to be whoever I need to be for a team to be successful.”

Carter’s record-setting trophies and plaques are boxed up in his mother’s house. She would rather display his college degree, anyways. One day, Carter will move them out of her home. Until then, he is going to continue moving toward his ultimate goal.

“My dream is to be in the NBA,” Carter said. “I’m going to keep working. I’m never going to stop until my body gives out and says, ‘It’s done, you gave it a run.’ I’m going to keep trying.”

Alan is an expert gambling writer who works as one of the chief editors for Basketball Insiders. He has been covering online gambling and sports betting for over 8 years, having written for the likes of Sportlens, Compare.bet, The Sports Daily, 90min, and TopRatedCasinos.co.uk. His particular specialisms include US online casinos and gambling regulations, and soccer and basketball betting. Based in London, Alan holds an MA in English Literature and is a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC.

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