Image by Getty Images via @daylifeThe weeks leading up to the draft are key for college players looking to enter the NBA. Most of them have to prove they belong in the league skill-wise. Some others have a lot more convincing to do. When you’ve made headlines for the wrong reasons, you also have to prove your head and heart are in the right place. UTEP forward Derrick Caracter is one of the biggest examples in this year’s draft.After butting heads with coaches throughout high school and college and having his commitment questioned, Caracter, once the No. 1 high school player in the nation, is out to prove he’s a changed man.
So how is he going to do that?
“Just look at the last year of my life”, Caracter answers. “I’m 22 years old now. I can’t play this game forever. There are some guys that eventually quit and then drift off and wind up who knows where… I chose not to be one of those guys that don’t work hard and then regret it for the rest of their lives.”
The road to redemption for Caracter began this season at UTEP, the college where he transferred after leaving Rick Pitino’s Louisville. He averaged 14.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg there this year, leading the Miners to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to eventual runner-up Butler. At UTEP, he flashed the best of his game - the strength on the boards, the nice footwork, the excellent touch around the basket…
The conditioning, though, wasn’t still top notch.
Improving in that department has been one of Caracter’s objectives while working out at IMG Academy in Florida lately. He says he’s at 285-290 pounds now - the goal being slimming down to 265.
“I have to prove I can be consistent on my work habits,” the 6-foot-9 Caracter says. “That’s the most important thing I need to do.”
