D. J. Carton

D. J. Carton

Carton in January 2020
No. 15–San Diego Clippers
Position	Point guard
League	NBA G League
Personal information
Born	(2000-08-05) August 5, 2000 (age 24) Pineville, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school	Bettendorf (Bettendorf, Iowa)
College	Ohio State (2019–2020) Marquette (2020–2021)
NBA draft	2021: undrafted
Playing career	2021–present
Career history
2021–2022	Greensboro Swarm
2022–2024	Iowa Wolves
2024	Toronto Raptors
2024	→Raptors 905
2025–present	San Diego Clippers
Career highlights and awards
Iowa Mr. Basketball (2019)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

Desi Justice Carton (born August 5, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the San Diego Clippers of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Marquette Golden Eagles.

Early life

Growing up, Carton's family moved several times before settling in Geneseo, Illinois. While living in Geneseo he attended St. Malachy Catholic School, and also went to the Geneseo Middle School. He excelled at baseball and could throw 75 miles an hour by seventh grade. He also played running back on the football team, but a rotator cuff injury forced him to concentrate on basketball. Carton moved to Bettendorf, Iowa after eight grade and he attended Bettendorf High School, where he became a starter on the basketball team as a sophomore. ^[1] As a junior, he was a first-team all-state pick, averaging a school-record 26.3 points per game to go with 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He scored 49 points against Davenport West High School during his senior season. Carton led the Bulldogs to a 21–2 season and the top of the Class 4A state rankings before they fell to Dubuque Senior High School in the state Sweet 16 despite 27 points from Carton. ^[2] As a senior, Carton averaged 24.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. ^[3] Carton finished his career as the all-time leading scorer with 1,198 points and was among the school's all-time leaders in rebounds (372) and assists (257). ^[4] He was named Co-Iowa Mr. Basketball in 2019, alongside Jake Hilmer. In AAU play, Carton competed for the Iowa Barnstormers before joining the Quad City Elite. ^[5]

Ranked the 34th best player in his class and a four-star recruit, Carton committed to Ohio State on July 14, 2018, over offers from Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Marquette and Xavier, among others. ^[6]

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
D. J. Carton PG	Bettendorf, IA	Bettendorf (IA)	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Jul 14, 2018
	Star ratings: Rivals:     247Sports:     ESPN:    ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 33   247Sports: 32   ESPN: 35
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Ohio State 2019 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020. "2019 Ohio State Buckeyes Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020. "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.

College career

Carton was named the Big Ten preseason freshman of the year, but Florida State transfer CJ Walker started ahead of him at point guard to begin the season. ^[3] Carton scored a season-high 19 points on December 15, 2019, in a 84–71 loss to Minnesota. ^[7] On January 26, 2020, Carton scored 17 points and had three assists in a win over Northwestern. He decided to take a leave of absence from the team on January 30, citing mental health issues. ^[8] Carton averaged 10.4 points and 3.0 assists per game as a freshman, shooting 40% from 3-point range. Following the season, he opted to transfer from Ohio State. ^[9]

On April 15, 2020, Carton committed to continue his career at Marquette. ^[10] He was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA. ^[11] Carton averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. After the season, he announced he was entering the 2021 NBA draft and hiring an agent. ^[12]

Professional career

Greensboro Swarm (2021–2022)

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Carton signed a contract with the Charlotte Hornets on August 7, 2021. ^[13] However, he was waived on October 8. ^[14] On October 24, he signed with the Greensboro Swarm as an affiliate player. ^[15]

Iowa Wolves (2022–2024)

On November 2, 2022, Carton was named to the opening night roster for the Iowa Wolves. ^[16]

On October 19, 2023, Carton signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, ^[17] but was waived the next day. ^[18] On October 29, he returned to Iowa. ^[19]

Toronto Raptors / Raptors 905 (2024)

On February 21, 2024, Carton signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors ^[20] and on March 2, he signed a two-way contract. ^[21] On December 10, he was waived by the Raptors. ^[22]

San Diego Clippers (2025–present)

On January 29, 2025, Carton joined the San Diego Clippers. ^[23]

Career 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

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2023–24	Toronto	4	0	8.9	.375	.250	.800	1.0	.8	.3	.0	2.8
2024–25	Toronto	4	0	8.3	.143	.000	1.000	1.0	.8	.5	.0	.8
Career		8	0	8.6	.267	.143	.833	1.0	.8	.4	.0	1.8

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2019–20	Ohio State	20	3	23.9	.477	.400	.759	2.8	3.0	.7	.4	10.4
2020–21	Marquette	27	24	31.1	.446	.282	.743	4.1	3.4	1.1	.4	13.0
Career		47	27	28.0	.457	.322	.748	3.5	3.2	.9	.4	11.9

Personal life

Carton was born in Pineville, North Carolina. Carton's mother Jennifer played volleyball at the University of Colorado. His father Desi Wilson played basketball and baseball at Fairleigh Dickinson University before being selected in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers and enjoying a short career with the San Francisco Giants. His maternal grandfather Gene Meeker played basketball at the University of Iowa during the 1950s. Carton has not seen his father since the age of four. When his mother married Dale Carton, he changed his name from Desi Junior Wilson to Desi Justice Carton. ^[1]

References

1. Coss, Matt (December 1, 2018). "Bulldogs' Carton makes meteoric rise to stardom". Quad City Times . Retrieved April 22, 2020.
2. Helwagen, Steve (April 24, 2019). "A Class By Itself: Holtmann has high hopes for 2019 signee haul". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
3. Doxsie, Don (March 19, 2019). "Bettendorf's Carton leaving Ohio State program". Quad City Times . Retrieved April 22, 2020.
4. Coss, Matt (March 12, 2019). "Carton, Hilmer share Mr. Basketball honor". Quad City Times . Retrieved April 22, 2020.
5. "Iowa all-state boys' basketball 2019: Jake Hilmer, DJ Carton named Mr. Basketball co-winners". The Gazette . March 12, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
6. Landis, Bill (July 14, 2018). "5-star point guard DJ Carton commits to Ohio State basketball: What it means for the Buckeyes". The Plain Dealer . Retrieved April 22, 2020.
7. "Minnesota knocks off No. 3 Ohio State 84–71". ESPN . Associated Press. December 15, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
8. Borzello, Jeff (January 30, 2020). "Ohio State's D.J. Carton takes leave, cites mental health". ESPN . Retrieved April 2, 2020.
9. Boone, Kyle (March 19, 2020). "Ohio State freshman D.J. Carton enters transfer portal after stepping away for mental health reasons". CBS Sports . Retrieved April 2, 2020.
10. Daniels, Evan (April 15, 2020). "OSU transfer DJ Carton commits to Marquette". 247Sports.com. 247Sports . Retrieved April 15, 2020.
11. Means, Stephen (June 17, 2020). "Former Ohio State basketball player D.J. Carton granted immediate eligibility at Marquette after transfer". The Plain Dealer . Retrieved June 17, 2020.
12. Steele, Ben (April 28, 2021). "D.J. Carton won't return for another season at Marquette, but will enter NBA draft and hire agent". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel . Retrieved June 22, 2021.
13. "Charlotte Hornets Sign DJ Carton". NBA.com. August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
14. Wash, Quinton (October 8, 2021). "Charlotte Hornets Waive DJ Carton and Xavier Sneed". NBA.com. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
15. Trujillo, Justin (October 24, 2021). "Swarm Announce Training Camp Roster And Coaching Staff For 2021-22". NBA.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
16. "Iowa Wolves Finalize Opening Night Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
17. "Timberwolves Sign D.J. Carton". NBA.com. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
18. "Timberwolves Waive Four Players". NBA.com. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
19. "Wolves Announce Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. October 29, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
20. "RAPTORS SIGN CARTON TO 10-DAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
21. "RAPTORS SIGN CARTON TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
22. "RAPTORS WAIVE CARTON". NBA.com. December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
23. "San Diego Clippers Acquire D.J. Carton from Iowa Wolves". NBA.com. January 29, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.

External links

• Marquette Golden Eagles bio
• Ohio State Buckeyes bio
• USA Basketball bio ^{[ dead link ‍]}