D.J. Carton, a 2019 point guard from Iowa, shows why UW extended scholarship offer

MEQUON – Guard D.J. Carton earned a scholarship offer from Wisconsin after impressing the coaching staff during an advanced camp last month.

“They knew I had talent,” said Carton, who will be a junior at Bettendorf (Iowa) High School and plays AAU ball for Quad City Elite. “I just had to play my ball and be a good teammate. I feel like once they saw that they knew I’d fit there.”

Carton, 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, showed this week at the Next Level Invitational at Homestead High School why UW extended that offer for its 2019 class.

Playing for Quad City Elite’s 16U team, the left-hander showed the ability to beat defenders off the dribble and finish not at but above the rim with authority.

“I feel I can use my quickness to get to the hoop when I want,” Carton said. “But I feel a big part of my game is as a facilitator. As a point guard, that is where you’ve got to be.”

Quad City Elite’s 16U team got off to a slow start in its opener against Chicago Lockdown before taking a one-point halftime lead and then pulling away for a 48-25 victory.

Carton had an assist on a three-pointer and scored on a drive just before the halftime buzzer to give his team the lead for good.

He broke open a close game with an impressive three-possession sequence in the second half.

With his team leading, 25-21, Carton stole a pass and drove in for a dunk. After a miss, Carton found a teammate for an open three-pointer and a 32-21 lead. He then stole another pass and drove in but missed a contested shot. He grabbed the rebound, however, and scored to push the lead to 34-21.

“We just weren’t ready,” Carton said of the early 11-4 deficit. “It was a rough start for us. But I think my team and I handled it well. We jumped on them and we were the aggressors in the second half…

“I don’t care if it is AAU…this is basketball. I’m going to play with all I’ve got, whether it’s on the defensive end or offensive end.”

Carton has scholarship offers from UW, Marquette and Northern Iowa. He expects to hear from Creighton and Minnesota soon.

“I’m just going to keep making relationships with other coaches and see which college fits me best,” he said.

UW assistant Joe Krabbenhoft was on hand to watch Carton’s performance against Chicago Lockdown.

Coaches cannot comment publicly on unsigned recruits but it is easy to see why UW hopes to add Carton for the ’19 class.

“They said they feel I have a talent that isn’t teachable,” Carton said. “My leadership skills are what stand out.

“Whatever happens in a game, when adversity comes, I feel I tend to stay positive, which they liked the most about me. The talent was there. They liked the way I carried myself on the court.”