MANHATTAN – Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang added his second transfer in as many days, as former consensus Top 150 guard Camryn “Cam” Carter (Donaldsonville, La./Oak Hill Academy [Va.]/Mississippi State) signed a Financial Aid Agreement with the program for the 2022-23 season on Wednesday.
A former star at famed Oak Hill Academy, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound combo guard arrives at K-State after spending his freshman season at Mississippi State in 2021-22. He saw action in 27 of 34 games for the Bulldogs with 4 starts, averaging 2.1 points and 0.8 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game for a team that advanced to the NIT.
“We’re thrilled to add yet another outstanding player in Cam to our family,” said Tang. “He has all the skills and intangibles to be a difference-making guard for us on both ends of the court. On top of his basketball talents, Cam is an outstanding young man and a terrific student with a great family. We can’t wait to get him to campus and for him to be a part of our program. Just like Jerrell, the K-State Family will love Cam as both a person and player.”
Carter is the second transfer to ink with the Wildcats in the last few days, joining 6-foot-10, 216-pound center Jerrell Colbert (Houston, Texas/Houston [Tenn.]/LSU) who signed on Monday (April 18).
A native of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, Carter played in more games than any other Bulldog freshman in 2021-22, scoring in 12 games, including a pair of double-digit scoring games. He tallied a season-high 15 points at No. 25 Alabama on Feb. 16, going 4-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line to go with 3 assists and 1 steal in a season-best 28 minutes. He also had 11 points in his first collegiate game against North Alabama on Nov. 10, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including 1-of-1 from long range, and a 2-of-2 from the line, to go with 2 assists, 2 steals and a block in 19 minutes.
For the season, Carter averaged 2.1 points on 38.5 percent (20-of-52) from the field, including 30 percent (6-of-20) from 3-point range, to go with 0.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.4 steals in 8.4 minutes per game. All 4 of his starts came in SEC play, as he played in 14 of 18 conference games, averaging 1.8 points on 29.0 percent (9-of-31) shooting, including 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from 3-point range, to go with 1.1 rebounds in 8.2 minutes per game.
“Coach Tang and the staff is what really made me commit,” said Carter. “They are all energetic and fun to be around. The way they develop players is crazy. There is no doubt in my mind that this staff will develop me into the player I want to become and help me get to the highest level I’ve always dreamed of. Coach Tang and the staff broke down some of my film from every game I played 12 or more minutes last season to see the real player I am because he knew that my numbers didn’t match the player I really am. Coach Tang has a winning reputation and winning attracts winners, so it was a no brainer to become a Wildcat.”
Carter played his senior season for legendary high school coach Steve Smith at famed Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, where he helped the Warriors to a 20-9 overall record and a trip to the quarterfinals of GEICO Nationals in 2020-21. He ranked third in scoring (13.0 ppg.) behind future 5-star recruits M.J. Rice and Caleb Foster, connecting on 50.4 percent (119-of-236) from the field, including 34.9 percent (22-of-63) from 3-point range, while hitting on 67.5 percent (27-of-40) from the free throw line. He led the team in steals (48/2.0 spg.), while he was second in assists (104/4.3 apg.) and third in rebounding (102/4.2 rpg.).
Carter scored in double figures in 17 of 25 games played at Oak Hill with four 20-point performances, including a season-high 22 points on 10-of-16 field goals at Wasatch Academy on Jan. 9. He also logged four double-doubles (points-rebounds), including a 16-point, 10-rebound effort to go with 8 assists and 3 steals against Pace Academy in the first round of GEICO Nationals on March 31. He collected his first career triple-double at Virginia Episcopal with 14 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists on March 7.
“Cam excels on both ends of the court,” Smith said of Carter upon his signing with MSU in 2021. “Defensively, he is a lockdown on-ball defender who also led our team in steals and deflections this past season. Offensively, he can play either guard spot. He has good three-point range and can really put pressure on the defense by driving the ball and creating for a teammate or himself. What I love most about Cam is that he is a tremendous teammate and is very coachable. He just wants to win. Cam will do whatever is asked of him on a daily basis in practice and in games.”
Prior to playing his senior season at Oak Hill, Carter played the 2019-20 season at East Ascension High School in Gonzales, Louisiana for head coach Tyler Turner. He helped the Spartans to a 26-9 overall record and a runner-up finish in District 5-5A before losing in the second round of the 2020 Class 5A State Tournament. Carter was an honorable mention All-State selection by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and a member of the First Team All-District 5-5A and First Team All-Parish squads.
Carter played on the AAU circuit for the New Orleans Elite coached by Colby Lewis.
Carter was rated as a consensus Top 150 prospect out of Oak Hill, including No. 114 by 247Sports and No. 148 by Rivals. He was listed as a top-30 combo guard by both recruiting services, including 26th by Rivals and 30th by 247Sports. He was ranked as the third-best prospect in the state of Virginia by 247Sports.
Carter held a number of high-major offers out of high school, including Georgetown, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Virginia Tech, before choosing the Bulldogs over the Hokies.