Oct. 11, 2006

USCSPORTS.com will feature each of the Gamecock Basketball players throughout the pre-season with its own version of HOOP DREAMS.

With the college basketball season set to tip-off with practice the next day, the South Carolina men’s and women’s basketball teams will host HARDWOOD HOOPLA 2006 as part of Spend an Evening with the Gamecocks on Fri., Oct. 13 in the USC Basketball Practice Facility/Volleyball Competition Facility (see uscsports.com for more details).

Today USCsports.com talks to Mitchell Carter, a 6′ 10, 273lb. center from Milwaukee, Wisc. Carter, whose nickname is `Mitch’, has a wingspan of 87 1/2 — 5 1/2 inches longer than his body. He chose USC over Marquette, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wake Forest and Georgetown. Under the tutelage of Coach Jim Gosz of Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, Wisc., he averaged 12 ppg, 9 rpg and 7 apg during his senior season and earned McDonald’s Classic All-American honors.

USC Head Coach Dave Odom on Mitchell Carter:

“Mitchell is very talented post player, but there’s just so much to learn from a low- post perspective. He’s young in years, but he’s long on desire. He’s a hard worker and he has good skills. He has the talent to be a good post player at this level and given the right amount of work, right amount of time and patience, I would expect him to be very, very good. Even as a freshman he’s got a chance to play some as we’re down in numbers in that particular area. But it’s going to be my goal to get him some early experience on the court in game action to see what he can do.”

Said Carter on why he chose USC:

“I have a favorite quote, `give me a firm piece of ground on which to stand and I will move the Earth.’ I feel that USC is my firm piece of ground. The head coach and staff will help me become the best I can be on and off the court.”

USC: What game are you looking forward to the most this season?

MC: I’m looking forward to all of the games.

USC: What is one thing that most people wouldn’t know about you?

MC: I’m an extremely hard worker.

USC: What kind of an impact do you expect to make this season?

MC: I don’t know what kind of impact I will make, but I do know that I will give it everything I’ve got and work hard both on and off the court.

USC: After the game who is the first person that you talk to after a game?

MC: My mother. If she doesn’t call me, I call her.

USC: As a newcomer what returning player do you look up to the most?

MC: Tre’ Kelley and Brandon Wallace because of their hard work and dedication to the team.

USC: What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?

MC: My education

USC: What do you like best about playing for USC?

MC: Being on the court with my team.

USC: After two consecutive post seasons, what do you hope to see Gamecocks’ do this season?

MC: I don’t know what we’re going to do in the post season. I hope we’re going to take it one game at a time. I can tell you that we will play hard and give 110% every time we are on the court.