Prospect Spotlight: Dariauna Carter (2020)

<span style="font-weight: 400">Highland Park 2020 point guard Dariauna Carter is a rising prospect in the 2020 class, blessed with the ability to attack the basket as well as let the game come to her.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">At 5’5, Carter takes pride in her ability to lead the team from the point guard position. However, Carter did not get a chance to play her junior season due to an ACL injury. Despite missing the season, she says the injury gave her an opportunity to see the game differently.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I got the opportunity to get a different perspective on the game,” she said. “I worked hard that off season worked on leadership skills and iq of the game.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">As a sophomore, Carter was the leading scorer in Topeka, averaging 18 points per game and earning all-state and all-city for her efforts.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">She played for the Kansas Elite during the offseason as says the experience has helped her game grow.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Carter says the Topeka boys’ basketball coach has given her an opportunity to work out with the boys and says that experience has also helped her game grow as well.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I really worked on game scenarios during the summer making sure I make the right plays and choices,” she said. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400">After going .500 without Carter a year ago, expectations are high in 2019-20.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I expect us to work well and take one game at a time,” she said.”Really critique and minimize the little things that need fixed. We will need to stay together and make sure we are on the same page. I look forward to playing all the teams there has been some Major changes so I very excited to see what will happen this year.”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">Carter says coach Mike Williams has had the biggest impact on her basketball career in recent years.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“He has done a lot for me letting me into the gym letting me come to the boys work outs talking to me about life just being really supportive on that,” she said. “God is a major factor in this to because I have grown spiritually with him .”</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">A fan of WNBA player Gabby Williams and UConn guard Crystal Dangerfield, Carter says she has taken elements from both player’s game and made them her own.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400">“I take the mindset and dog from Gabby she makes smart decisions in the game,” Carter said. “I like Crystal because she lets the game come to her she is very fast in transition and very confident in her game.”</span>