Rutgers transfer and fifth-year senior Kai Carter may be the missing piece that the Memphis WBB needed in year one for Alex Simmons. (Image Credit: Rutgers Athletics)
Carter, who spent three years at UNC Asheville and transferred to Rutgers last season, becomes the fourth member of Memphis’ transfer portal class. She joins Ki’Ari Cain, Layken Cox, and Alasia Smith, all of whom followed first-year head coach Alex Simmons from Gardner Webb.
Carter becomes the fourth former Big South player to follow Coach Simmons to the AAC with Memphis.
What Kai Carter Brings to the Tigers
Carter, a 6’0 guard, brings size and experience on the perimeter for a revamped Tigers roster. Through 112 games played and 66 career starts, she has totaled 1094 points and 534 rebounds.
The Atlanta, Georgia native committed to UNC-Asheville out of high school. Her best collegiate season came during her sophomore season in 2020-21, where she was named Second-Team All-Big South with averages of 13.3 PPG and 7.7 RPG.
Kai Carter immediately becomes one of the more versatile players on the Tigers’ roster.
At 6’0 tall, Carter pairs her size with solid ball handling ability that she uses to break down the defense. She operates as a slasher, getting into the paint to pass to a teammate or finish around the rim.
Furthermore, while primarily effective from the mid-range area and in the paint, Carter isn’t a slouch from the outside. Throughout her four-year career, she has connected on 121 three-point shots at a 30% clip.
On the defensive end, Carter is solid, using her length and athleticism to cut defenders off. She has collected 89 steals in her career thus far.
While solid in all aspects of the game, Carter’s biggest strength is her play in transition. She will undoubtedly be one of the team’s most athletic players, which will do her very well in Alex Simmons’ up-tempo offense. She runs the court extremely well and can run the break as the ball handler, utilizing her aggressive nature to create open shots for herself and her teammates near the basket.
How Carter Fits with Memphis
Carter will likely round out the starting lineup for the Tigers, playing the ‘3’ position for the Tigers.
She will be effective in the fast-paced nature of the Memphis offense, complementing the speed and playmaking ability of fifth-year senior Ki’Ari Cain and the shooting prowess of graduate guard Madison Griggs. Also, Carter will add an effective rebounder on the wing for the Tigers, which will pair well with a physical frontcourt that includes senior Alasia Smith and junior forward Hannah Riddick.
Slotting Carter into the Memphis starting lineup will allow the Tigers to have one of the deeper bench units in the AAC.
Meanwhile, the depth of the frontcourt also appears to be a strong suit for the Tigers. Transfer forward Layken Cox and returners Shelbee Brown and Aliyah Green provide formidable depth for a Memphis frontcourt that will be extremely solid from a rebounding and physicality perspective.
With her team more than likely set in stone, Simmons will begin recruiting for future high school classes and prepare for the 2023-24 season. The addition of Carter was the missing piece for Simmons, who now finalizes a complete and versatile Tigers roster ahead of her first season as head coach.
All things considered, it looks to be an exciting season for the Memphis Tigers women’s basketball team. We’ll see if Carter and company can deliver upon these expectations.
