Big 12 Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)
By Joey Loose
10. Jevon Carter
Between 2014 and 2018, West Virginia made three Sweet Sixteens and was one of the nation’s finest programs. Carter is a big reason why. A 6’2 guard from Maywood, Illinois, he left the suburbs of Chicago for Morgantown and became not just a dynamic backcourt weapon for the Mountaineers but also one of the nation’s top defensive players.
He worked his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore but was already contributing at a high level. He had a 28-point performance early into his career, though his offensive game took a step forward as an upperclassman. Carter averaged 17.3 points and 6.6 assists as a senior and would lead the Mountaineers to the Sweet Sixteen in both his junior and senior seasons.
Not only was Carter named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in each of those final seasons, but he also was named NABC Defensive Player of the Year, standing out at the national level for his talent. He led the entire nation in steals as a senior. He wasn’t just a great defender, finishing 3rd in the Big 12 in scoring as a senior to earn All-American honors as well. Carter’s impact can be seen both through all these rewards and with the success of the Mountaineers, who won 105 games in those four years.