Willie McCarter

Willie McCarter
McCarter in 1971
Personal information
Born(1946-07-26)July 26, 1946
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
DiedApril 18, 2023(2023-04-18) (aged 76)
Jackson, Michigan, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High schoolTheodore Roosevelt
(Gary, Indiana)
CollegeDrake (1966–1969)
NBA draft1969: 1st round, 12th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Playing career1969–1973
PositionShooting guard
Number15, 17
Career history
As player:
1969–1971Los Angeles Lakers
1971–1972Portland Trail Blazers
1973Grand Rapids Tackers
As coach:
1979–1982Detroit
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points1,090 (7.0 ppg)
Rebounds248 (1.6 rpg)
Assists304 (2.0 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Willie J. McCarter (July 26, 1946 – April 18, 2023) was an American basketball player. He was a 6'3" (1.90 m) 175 lb (79 kg) guard. He played at Drake University, averaging 19.9 ppg in three seasons.[citation needed] He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 12th pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and played three seasons with the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers.

After his NBA career ended in 1972, he became the coach at Harper Creek High School in Battle Creek, Michigan.[1] In January 1973, he signed to play with the Grand Rapids Tackers of the Continental Basketball Association, playing only when it did not conflict with his coaching.[2] McCarter later served as head coach at the University of Detroit Mercy for three seasons from 1979 to 1982, replacing Smokey Gaines after Gaines was hired as the head basketball coach at San Diego State University.

On September 23, 2005, McCarter suffered the first of three strokes within nine months. With the help of his doctors, he recovered.[3]

In February 2009, Drake University retired his No. 15 Bulldogs jersey.[4]

McCarter's younger brother Andre also played in the NBA.[5]

McCarter died in Jackson, Michigan, on April 18, 2023, at the age of 76. His lifelong friend and former teammate, Dolph Pulliam, was at McCarter's bedside when he died.[6]

Career playing statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Source[7]

Regular season

Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
1969–70 L.A. Lakers 40 21.5 .378 .717 2.1 2.3 7.7
1970–71 L.A. Lakers 76 18.0 .417 .597 1.6 1.7 7.1
1971–72 Portland 39 15.7 .401 .673 1.1 2.2 6.2
Career 155 18.3 .402 .656 1.6 2.0 7.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
1970 L.A. Lakers 5 2.8 .429 1.000 .6 .6 1.4
1971 L.A. Lakers 12 19.3 .355 .167 2.2 1.4 4.6
Career 17 14.5 .361 .286 1.7 1.2 3.6

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Detroit Mercy Titans (Midwestern City Conference) (1979–1982)
1979–80 Detroit Titans 14–13
1980–81 Detroit Titans 9–18 1–5 6th
1981–82 Detroit Titans 10–17 6–6 5th
Detroit: 33–48 (.407) 7–11 (.389)
Total: 33–48 (.407)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ Frank, Bill (December 24, 1972). "Coach Willie McCarter feels zone defense on way out". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. C-4. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Frank, Bill (January 7, 1973). "Once Over Lightly". Battle Creek Enquirer. p. C-4. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Mundy, Chip (March 20, 2008). "Stroke victim hopes he and his team are in for a long run". Jackson Citizen Patriot. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  4. ^ Andrew Logue. "Drake men's basketball: Bulldogs' hoops legends honored". Des Moines Register. February 22, 2009. Retrieved on March 11, 2009.
  5. ^ "Collegiate Record Winning Streak In Serious Jeopardy Now". The News-Palladium. March 27, 1972. p. 16. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Fales, Andy (April 20, 2023). "Drake basketball legend Willie McCarter dies". who13.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "Willie McCarter NBA stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 27, 2024.


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