University of Washington Huskies Coach Hopkins Recruits PG Michael Carter III

The University of Washington Huskies Mens’ Basketball Team has the first recruit, 2017 point guard Michael Carter III

The Washington Huskies have opportunities for the right players.  It’s clear from recent years that there is a path to the NBA through the University of Washington.  But to navigate that path, a young man must have more than a love of basketball. He must train, listen to coaching, and maintain a high basketball IQ.

Michael Carter III is not just a young man with a love of basketball. He is a young man with a love of basketball, and a love of the University of Washington. Playing for the Washington Huskies has always been his dream since he was a young man. And so, it fueled his drive to train, to improve, to be the best he could be. As he grew, he developed. As he developed, he grew. Now reported to stand 6-foot-5.5 , Carter offers quite of versatility to the Washington Huskies Men’s Basketball team.

He’ll Grow On You

So what does he do?  Well, he’ll grow on you. Originally reported no taller than 6-foot-4, he has definitely found another growth spurt.  At 6-foot-5.5 , he stands tall in the back court.  Having graduated in 2016 from O’Dea, his senior year was rather productive. He averaged 17.1 points in 26 games played.

This young guard has some game folks. But there is more to like about this young man. This is his dream.  This is the kind of stuff that grabs each of us by the heartstrings. He wants to play basketball, but he dreams of playing basketball for the University of Washington Huskies.

"“Growing up in Seattle as a kid, everybody wants to go to U-Dub,” he said. “That’s everybody’s dream school when they first start coming up in the basketball community. That’s the place where you go and see all the guys playing and stuff in open gyms. When they called me I was super-excited because I had just been there working out and stuff, shootaround. I always pictured myself making a big shot and playing with the crowd.” –Michael Carter III as reported by Dawgman.com"

Ultimately, winning and succeeding are how players, teams, and coaches will eventually be judged by history.   And there are no guarantees to winning in NCAA Men’s basketball. But there are ways to improve those odds drastically.

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More Than One And Done

Michael Carter III does not strike me as a one and done player. Perhaps it’s his passion to play basketball for the Washington Huskies. It might be his enthusiastic photo, smiling broadly standing amidst his new coaches. But if I was a betting man, I’d lay money on that fact that he said so himself:

“going to UW for the next 4 years!!#GoDawgs”

Committing for four years is not very common now in college basketball. But its value has been discounted far too excessively.  Four years not only ensures a young college athlete a degree, but it produces far more mature and developed game-skills, physique, and mental toughness.

It also enables the coaching staff to build around those players capable of staying with it for the four years.

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Michael Carter III’s dream may be coming true. But so is the dream of so many Washington Huskies fans.  The Washington Huskies have recruited their first player.  And he is a good one.