Willie J. McCarter (born 26 July 1946) is an American retired 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.
![]() McCarter in 1971 | |
Personal information | |
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Born | (1946-07-26) July 26, 1946 (age 76) Gary, Indiana |
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Listed weight | 175 lb (79 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Theodore Roosevelt (Gary, Indiana) |
College | Drake (1966–1969) |
NBA draft | 1969 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall |
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers | |
Playing career | 1969–1973 |
Position | Shooting guard |
Number | 15, 17 |
Career history | |
1969–1971 | Los Angeles Lakers |
1971–1972 | Portland Trail Blazers |
1973 | Grand Rapids Tackers |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 1,090 (7.0 ppg) |
Rebounds | 248 (1.6 rpg) |
Assists | 304 (2.0 apg) |
Stats ![]() | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
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]
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
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Detroit Mercy Titans (Midwestern City Conference) (1979–1982) | |||||||||
1979–80 | 1979–80 Detroit Mercy Titans | 14–13 | |||||||
1980–81 | 1980–81 Detroit Mercy Titans | 9–18 | 1–5 | 6th | |||||
1981–82 | 1981–82 Detroit Mercy Titans | 10–17 | 6–6 | 5th | |||||
Detroit Mercy: | 33–48 (.407) | 7–11 (.389) | |||||||
Total: | 33–48 (.407) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
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1969 NBA draft | |
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First round | |
Second round |
Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball head coaches | |
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# denotes interim head coach |
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