Before we get started, let us go ahead and put one thing out there, we are not trying to sensationalize individual players over team. However, when you have two of the best players in the state, at the same position, on the floor across from one other, that is what the people are talking about.
The buzz surrounding the matchup of 2020 Jajuan Carr, North Carolina’s #2 point guard in his class, and 2021 Carter Whitt, North Carolina’s #1 point guard in his class, was very apparent, and very loud.
Let’s take a look at the players, and then let’s take a look at how the matchup played out.
Whitt is a 6’3″ lead guard who plays at a great pace, never rushed. He does a great job of seeing the floor and his jump shot has really come this year, able to make it in tough spots, from range. While Whitt may not rack up the traditional assists, his ability to touch the paint and dish out hockey assists leads to a lot of points.
Carr is a strong bodied 6’1″ point guard who has excellent body control. He is quick twitch heading into the paint, and makes great reads once there. Carr, much like Whitt has a never changing demeanor on the floor, not able to tell if they are too high or too low. With his ability to rebound, Carr is a triple double threat each time he walk out on the floor.
The first half each player had their moments. Whitt finished the half with 16 points on 3-4 from 3, with 3 rebounds and 1 assist. Carr finished the half with 7 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, with a block. Both teams played zone, with Pender sitting in a traditional 2-3 and Leesville Road with a box-and-1, spying on Carr.
The second half was a different story, it gradually became the Carter Whitt show as he was 4-7 from the field with 10 points and 6 assists for the half. It was his poise and his 2 steals and a block that really stood out.
Carr still did the tough guy stuff throughout. He finished with 8 rebounds and 11 points, really doing a great job creating plays for everyone on the floor. With a guy face guarding him throughout the game, and two spys on him, he made the reads and made the right plays.
This was a great matchup, it lived to to all the billing it received heading in. At the end of the day, Leesville Road got the win, so Carter won the war.