With postseason play beginning next week in the final season of his high school basketball career, Harlan County senior center Jaycee Carter appreciates what a special journey he has already experienced. Carter was a starter on last year’s 13th Region championship team that became the first squad from the county to make it all the way to the state finals since the 1940s.
“It was amazing,” Carter said. “I genuinely can’t truly put it into words how special of a time that was. At the time, we were just so excited and in the moment, then once it was over it’s just like wow we really did that. I talk about something from that trip every single day. It’s a source of motivation too because you just really want to experience that feeling again.”
Carter has experienced an amazing transformation in his own career, going from a reserve as a freshman to a starter as a sophomore and then playing a big role as a junior in the Bears’ run to the state finals. He’s continued to work on his game through the years, averaging 3.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore to 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last year. Carter has developed into one of the region’s top post players as a senior, averaging 11 points and 8.4 rebounds per game this season for the 21-8 Bears.
“He’s a great rebounder, and he’s become an inside presence for us to score,” Harlan County coach Kyle Jones said. “He’s also a 3-point-threat who people have to respect. He has become a leader and has improved an extraordinary amount.”
Carter started playing basketball when he was in fourth grade. He recently reached a personal goal of his this season when he got his 500th career rebound at Breathitt County. He has scored over 700 points in his career.
Jaycee’s role models are his parents and says they have encouraged him and provided him with examples of how he should live and behave. An even bigger role model for him is Jesus. Jaycee’s faith influences everything that he does, including basketball. He keeps a Bible in his ball bag and he reads it before every game.
“While stretching, I pray over the game, my teammates and coaches, the opposing team, for good health, good sportsmanship, and safe
travels for everyone,” Carter said. “Everything that’s been accomplished, I can’t take credit for. Everything that’s been done is because of Jesus. I thank God for every win and loss and for everything He’s allowed me to accomplish and see happen! I truly thank God for it all.”
Jaycee is deeply involved in his church, the Cawood Church of God, where his father, John, is the pastor. He has preached at Gulston Church of God, taught classes of all ages in youth group, and he even plays the drums.
“I began to play the drums a couple years ago when asked to play the Cajun, a type of drum that you sit on and play with your hands,” he said. “I played it for about a year, then we started buying different things like floor toms, toms, a snare, a couple cymbals, and making our own drums out of old ones we had.”
Carter, who has a 4.0 grade point average and a composite score of 23 on the ACT, said his future plans include teaching and perhaps coaching basketball. He plans to attended Southeast and then the University of Cumberlands to pursue a degree in middle school education.
The Bears are scheduled to play the final game of their regular season schedule on Thursday at Pineville and then open play Tuesday in the 52nd District Tournament at Harlan.
“We play in a very competitive region, and I feel like our experience from last season will really help us as we hope to make a run,” Carter said. “We’re just going to have to come to play every night in all areas.”