Before season, no one thought 1-and-done for Carrington

LISTEN to Bub Carrington’s news conference declaring for NBA Draft
Bub Carrington layup vs Louisville
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PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was four years ago when Pitt head coach Jeff Capel remembers getting a call from associated head coach Milan Brown. He needed to get to Atlantic City and watch this guard, Carlton ‘Bub’ Carrington.

Capel watched him and went to go see his father, who was a high school basketball coach at the time, and someone he knew.

“I said to Bub (his father is also called Bub Carrington), ‘yo, man, he’s got it. I want to offer him’,” Capel said Wednesday. “It was very rare, right then he told me, he’s yours. You don’t have to worry about anything, you got him.”

“It started this unbelievable relationship.”

Even with noticing his talent, Capel didn’t think he was getting a one-and-done from Baltimore. He also didn’t think Carrington thought it would only be a one-year relationship.

“When we recruited him, I thought he would be a pro,” Capel said. “I didn’t think it would be one year, that was until I got to know him and watched him work.

When he first got him on campus and Capel was allowed to work with him, he started to notice there was something unusual about this freshman. Not just the physical tools, but the mental. The way he thinks and processes the game. He had a competitiveness that went with a strong work ethic.

A triple-double in his debut opened eyes and then after about two weeks of college ball, Capel started to realize this wasn’t a normal freshman.

“I remember after the fourth game, sitting with his parents and talking to them about how do we want to handle this because I knew from my past experiences this had a chance to go pretty fast,” Capel said.

There were some ups-and-downs throughout the season, but after an adjustment to conference play, it was pretty clear, even to Carrington, NBA was a distinct possibility even after only one year. He finished with 456 points, grabbed 171 rebounds, 136 assists and 19 steals in 33 games and named All-ACC Rookie Team and Honorable Mention All-ACC.

“After the season was over with, I spoke to his dad again,” Capel said. “We put together a plan and I started reaching out to NBA teams, general managers, scouts, directors of personnel just to get them accurate information and feedback. The feedback that we got was very, very positive and I think this went into the decision to make this move.”

“I think it’s the right move. We are incredibly excited about it. He has a really, really bright future.”

What Capel thinks he has above the work ethic, competitiveness and even smarts is something the league craves right now—big guards.

“Positional size, I think he’s grown since the season has been over,” Capel said of Carrington who started his Pitt career at 6’5”. “Feel for the game, his ability to score and facilitate. He will continue to get stronger and I think he will grow again and that he’s still 18 (years-old) and won’t turn 19 until July.”

It’s in ways bittersweet. Capel knows it’s about getting players into the NBA, but he also knows the hole it leaves his program. Heading into his seventh season at Pitt, Capel wasn’t worrying about that on Wednesday. He’s happy for the development and the opportunity for the lightly recruited Carrington.

“This will always be home for him,” Capel said. “On a personal level I’m really proud of him. Really proud of how he’s handled everything this year. We threw a lot of his plate. He showed that he could handle it. I’m looking forward to watching the player he becomes.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: Michael Longo/For USA Today Network-USA TODAY NETWORK