Oklahoma State University Athletics
A Dozen Workouts And Counting For Cowboy Carroll
June 20, 2018 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER - Former Cowboy basketball standout Jeffrey Carroll hasn't had much time to sit back and relax this summer, after all, he is living out his dream as a professional basketball player and has his eyes set on the highest level: the NBA.
Carroll's professional career as a basketball player began almost immediately after his graduation in May. The 24-year-old participated in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where he had the chance to showcase in front of NBA scouts. Carroll averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in the showcase and his team ultimately won the tournament
"Just achieving that championship and to be known out there in the basketball world," Carroll said. "That was a good experience to come together with guys that I don't normally play with at all."
Since then, Carroll has traveled all over the country and worked out for multiple NBA teams, including the Rockets, Thunder, Nets, Timberwolves, Celtics, Knicks, Magic, Mavericks, Lakers, Spurs, Pistons and Warriors.
"It's honestly a dream come true," Carroll said. "It's definitely something I've been dreaming about since I started playing basketball. It's surreal that my whole life could change within the week. Regardless of if I get drafted or not, I'm a professional now."
Growing up less than an hour away from the American Airlines Center allowed Carroll to become a fan of the Dallas Mavericks. That's why the Rowlett, Texas native said the workout with the Mavericks meant just a little more to him.
"It's surreal that I got to work out for the Mavericks," Carroll said. "I used to go to their games all the time. Dallas is where I was for so long and where I grew up to become a man."
More than just a "3-and-D" player, Carroll can create off the dribble and has proven to be a capable rebounder with an average of 6.4 boards per game over his final two collegiate seasons. As the NBA moves further towards position-less basketball, Carroll hopes that will attract interest from NBA teams come draft night.
"A lot of teams like how I can rebound for my size. I just have a knack for the ball," Carroll said. "Realistically, I'm not going to have the ball in my hand a ton like a superstar would. But I just need to focus on being able to do my job and do it extremely well."
The 6-6 wing didn't see consistent minutes on the court for the Cowboys until his redshirt sophomore year, but according to Carroll, it was his first year here that proved to be the most critical.
"My redshirt year was probably the most important year in my basketball career," Carroll said. "It gave me time to transform my body in order to be successful and versatile."
Carroll became a key player for the Cowboys during a breakout year in 2017 when he recorded career-high averages in almost every statistical category. Carroll's evolution into a two-way player that can finish above the rim through contact, shoot from deep consistently and rebound at an elite level helped OSU to a 20-13 record. He finished as the second-leading scorer on the team (17.5 ppg) and the leading rebounder (6.6 rpg). Carroll earned Second Team All-Big 12 Conference honors and was named to the First-Team All-District later that season.
In his final season at OSU, Carroll took charge on both sides of the court. He led all Cowboys in minutes played and finished the season as the team's top scorer (15.4ppg) and the second leading rebounder (6.2rpg). Carroll was named to the All-Big 12 Conference team for the second year in a row, this time making the Third Team honors.
Carroll said that it's hard not to be successful at OSU unless you aren't willing to put in the effort. The diligent coaching staff and the available resources provided by the Cowboys are what made it so easy for him to excel at the collegiate level.
For Carroll, he holds the memories and the relationships that he made at OSU close to heart. Despite going down separate paths after graduation, he is keeping in touch with his college teammates and coaches.
"[Head coach Mike Boynton] calls to check up on me sometimes, to see where I am and to keep the process going," Carroll said. "My teammates are all on their separate journeys. But just because we aren't around each other all the time, doesn't mean we can't have that relationship anymore."
While working out in California for the Lakers last week, Carroll met up with Jawun Evans, who was his teammate at OSU for two years. Now a guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, Evans was in a similar situation last summer, preparing for the draft. He was able to give Carroll some insight about being a professional basketball player.
Evans told him that while the road may be tough right now, it only gets harder once you enter the league.
"It's not like college anymore, everyone can play in this league and there are no nights off," Carroll said.
The NBA draft will be held on June 21, but the former Cowboy isn't paying the pre-draft hype any attention. Instead, Carroll is focused on putting himself in the best possible position come draft night.
"I'm a professional now," Carroll said. "I get to wake up every day and do what I love. I can't ask for much more. I just want to be able to take it all in and embrace it and just have fun with it. I've put in so much work throughout my life and had to go through adversity just to get to where I want to go."
For fans that want to follow along with Carroll's journey this summer, check him out on social media at @J30Carroll on Twitter and at @j30carroll on Instagram.
Carroll's professional career as a basketball player began almost immediately after his graduation in May. The 24-year-old participated in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament where he had the chance to showcase in front of NBA scouts. Carroll averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in the showcase and his team ultimately won the tournament
"Just achieving that championship and to be known out there in the basketball world," Carroll said. "That was a good experience to come together with guys that I don't normally play with at all."
Since then, Carroll has traveled all over the country and worked out for multiple NBA teams, including the Rockets, Thunder, Nets, Timberwolves, Celtics, Knicks, Magic, Mavericks, Lakers, Spurs, Pistons and Warriors.
"It's honestly a dream come true," Carroll said. "It's definitely something I've been dreaming about since I started playing basketball. It's surreal that my whole life could change within the week. Regardless of if I get drafted or not, I'm a professional now."
Growing up less than an hour away from the American Airlines Center allowed Carroll to become a fan of the Dallas Mavericks. That's why the Rowlett, Texas native said the workout with the Mavericks meant just a little more to him.
"It's surreal that I got to work out for the Mavericks," Carroll said. "I used to go to their games all the time. Dallas is where I was for so long and where I grew up to become a man."
More than just a "3-and-D" player, Carroll can create off the dribble and has proven to be a capable rebounder with an average of 6.4 boards per game over his final two collegiate seasons. As the NBA moves further towards position-less basketball, Carroll hopes that will attract interest from NBA teams come draft night.
"A lot of teams like how I can rebound for my size. I just have a knack for the ball," Carroll said. "Realistically, I'm not going to have the ball in my hand a ton like a superstar would. But I just need to focus on being able to do my job and do it extremely well."
The 6-6 wing didn't see consistent minutes on the court for the Cowboys until his redshirt sophomore year, but according to Carroll, it was his first year here that proved to be the most critical.
"My redshirt year was probably the most important year in my basketball career," Carroll said. "It gave me time to transform my body in order to be successful and versatile."
Carroll became a key player for the Cowboys during a breakout year in 2017 when he recorded career-high averages in almost every statistical category. Carroll's evolution into a two-way player that can finish above the rim through contact, shoot from deep consistently and rebound at an elite level helped OSU to a 20-13 record. He finished as the second-leading scorer on the team (17.5 ppg) and the leading rebounder (6.6 rpg). Carroll earned Second Team All-Big 12 Conference honors and was named to the First-Team All-District later that season.
In his final season at OSU, Carroll took charge on both sides of the court. He led all Cowboys in minutes played and finished the season as the team's top scorer (15.4ppg) and the second leading rebounder (6.2rpg). Carroll was named to the All-Big 12 Conference team for the second year in a row, this time making the Third Team honors.
Carroll said that it's hard not to be successful at OSU unless you aren't willing to put in the effort. The diligent coaching staff and the available resources provided by the Cowboys are what made it so easy for him to excel at the collegiate level.
For Carroll, he holds the memories and the relationships that he made at OSU close to heart. Despite going down separate paths after graduation, he is keeping in touch with his college teammates and coaches.
"[Head coach Mike Boynton] calls to check up on me sometimes, to see where I am and to keep the process going," Carroll said. "My teammates are all on their separate journeys. But just because we aren't around each other all the time, doesn't mean we can't have that relationship anymore."
While working out in California for the Lakers last week, Carroll met up with Jawun Evans, who was his teammate at OSU for two years. Now a guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, Evans was in a similar situation last summer, preparing for the draft. He was able to give Carroll some insight about being a professional basketball player.
Evans told him that while the road may be tough right now, it only gets harder once you enter the league.
"It's not like college anymore, everyone can play in this league and there are no nights off," Carroll said.
The NBA draft will be held on June 21, but the former Cowboy isn't paying the pre-draft hype any attention. Instead, Carroll is focused on putting himself in the best possible position come draft night.
"I'm a professional now," Carroll said. "I get to wake up every day and do what I love. I can't ask for much more. I just want to be able to take it all in and embrace it and just have fun with it. I've put in so much work throughout my life and had to go through adversity just to get to where I want to go."
For fans that want to follow along with Carroll's journey this summer, check him out on social media at @J30Carroll on Twitter and at @j30carroll on Instagram.
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