University of North Carolina Athletics
Another Tar Heel Enters the NBA Draft
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
April 30, 1998
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--Vince Carter's comments also featuring comments from Head Coach Bill Guthridge and Dean Smith
Carter: I'm just here to announce that I'm making myself eligible for the NBA draft after months and months of frustrating nights and days of thinking about it and wondering should I or shouldn't I. I've talked with coaches and friends and discussed it with the coach and feel it is the chance of a lifetime."
Like Coach Guthridge said, it's a win, win. You can't lose either way. It's the chance of a lifetime and an opportunity. I think I can do well and I'm just going to go for it."
What Led to your decision since last year? I've been working hard taking in everything I can and trying to make myself a better player. My teammates have really pushed me throughout the years, and I've just gotten better. And I guess I'm just kind of proud of myself because here's a chance."
I'm on schedule yes, but he's been to more summer school classes than I have, but yes I am going to graduate and I am on time.
Did the Coaches feel you were ready for the NBA? Smith: Coach Guthridge and I are like teachers and professors. When your pupils move on to a tremendous opportunity, it's exciting. I called around and the consensus was anywhere from four to 10 (pick) and it could change based on how the lottery balls falls on the 17th. I know two teams have expressed some interest in him. They're looking for a big guard who could also play some small forward.
Do you think you are ready for the NBA? Carter: I feel I'm ready. I feel like I can handle myself out there. I do think I can bring some of my defense to the game. I just want to treat it like a college game and keep working hard.
Guthridge: Vince has been sensational in our individual work these past several weeks after the season has ended. I know I'm not going to be as good a coach next year without Vince.
What made you think this was the right time? Carter: Watching the playoffs and things they do, sometimes you say to yourself no way. But I had a meeting with the coaches on a Friday and discussed it over the weekend with my parents and on Tuesday we decided we were going to go for it. It's the chance of a lifetime. I feel ready. I feel I can handle myself out there.
Guthridge: When you're a person like Vince or Antawn, you dream of playing in the NBA. That's one of the reasons why you work so hard. When that opportunity presents itself, as it has to them, it's hard to turn down your dreams, especially when they become such realistic goals you can achieve. We as coaches, that's one of the reasons we're in coaching - we want the best for the young people we're associated with. When you have this type of opportunity, it's a great opportunity to fulfill a dream. We're just thrilled for Vince.
Guthridge: There's a possibility he'll be in the top five. We present the facts of the situation, and then they make up their mind with their parents and friends.
Did Antawn's decision affect your decision? Carter: Antawn and I haven't really talked about our decisions. He had his decision and I had mine. What he does doesn't affect what I do because we're two different people. I did go away, but I didn't get to go where I wanted to go. I wanted to go to Hawaii to get away from all you guys, but it didn't happen. But I did go away.
I'm happy with my decision right now and I'm just looking ahead to see what happens and looking forward to the NBA.
Do you plan on coming back, depending on the NBA lockout situation? Carter: I don't plan on it like I said. I'm looking at my options and I've made my decision and that's my No. 1 goal for right now.
Have you signed with an agent? Carter: We haven't signed with one yet. You really don't need it. Any of you guys can be my agent. Right now I don't have one.
Can you put this moment into words? Carter: It's tough. It's hard to put into words. It's a dream all basketball players have to say they're making themselves eligible for the NBA Draft. I'm definitely going to live and learn with the support of family and friends and teammates. I'm just going to enjoy the NBA and stay focused.
Smith: If there is a strike, he'll be back in school working for his degree and he can go to Greece and play for $2 million. I don't think that's really as big as it may appear.
How will the team adapt next year after losing two lottery picks? Guthridge: We're going to punt. We're certainly going to miss Vince and Antawn and Shammond and Makhtar. We're losing four excellent players and even better people. We knew that this was a possibility. We've got some young players that have been working hard in individual workouts. We're going from a very experienced team to a very inexperienced team. The players are going to work hard and the players are going to work hard. We'll do our best.
What is the hardest part of leaving? Carter: That made the decision hard. We had a great team. We're very close. We played well together on the court. Sometimes you have to say what's good for Vince and that's something I had to do. I felt this was a good decision for me. I talked to my teammates to let them know and they were all behind me. It made it easier. The same for my friends and staff and the Chapel Hill community. I'm sure they're all behind me. It makes it easier when you have the support of friends and family.
Smith: Vince is right on schedule to graduate with his senior class. He just didn't go to as many summer school classes as Antawn.
Smith: When Stackhouse and Wallace would have been seniors in 1997 we might have been better. But that isn't why you're here. You're in it to see a young man improve and get their degree and that's been happening. I feel confident it will happen with these two.
