2024 WNBA Draft – After 6 Years in the NCAA, Can Jessika Carter Show Her Worth in the League?

The Southeastern Conference has produced some of the best programs in women’s college basketball. After LSU last season, the national championships have an SEC claim this time around as well in the form of South Carolina. However, several players managed to make their mark with their individual brilliance in this conference. One name that rings a bell is Mississippi State’s senior forward Jessika Carter.

Despite her team’s exit from the WBIT Quarterfinals, the 6′ 5″ athlete decided to make her final season memorable. Moreover, her announcement to enter the 2024 WNBA Draft was another headline that turned quite a few heads.

What does the 6 years at Mississippi say about Jessika Carter?

After spending six years with the Bulldogs, their prolific scorer will now explore the professional paradigms of the WNBA. Having an illustrious NCAA career, the 24-year-old is one of the players to watch out for in the upcoming drafts. Scouted by the then-head coach Vic Schaefer in 2018, the 5-star prospect was on the sidelines as a fresher. Nonetheless, her sophomore season was more eventful as she became a regular starter on the team. Consequently, Carter ended up grabbing the 2nd Team All-SEC honors.

Her junior campaign was Covid stricken. Still, she continued to impress with her prolific scoring abilities and finished her 19-game season averaging 14.3 PPG and 8.7 RPG. Following this, some personal issues forced her out of the court for some time. But she returned resoundingly as a senior in 2022-23 and picked up from where she left. As a result, under Sam Purcell, Carter went on and earned her second mention in the 2nd Team All-SEC along with making it to the SEC All-Defensive team.

She saved the best for the last with the final season of her college basketball career producing 14.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. In addition to this, she registered a career-high score of 31 points in a game against Kennesaw State. Also, while facing Kentucky, a first 20-point and 20 rebounds game also served as a valid reminder of the talent she possesses. Eventually, she signed off her career with another 2nd Team All-SEC distinction courtesy of the 13 double-doubles throughout her final season that also won her the Gillom Trophy.

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The above-mentioned story about this decorated athlete makes a strong case for her in the WNBA drafts.

Which team can benefit from her talent?

The insane skill set and abilities that Carter has developed make her a worthy choice for the back-to-back WNBA winners, the Las Vegas Aces. A combination of post-offense and post defense can give her a chance to showcase her prowess in the center position. Meanwhile, according to ESPN’s latest mock draft, Carter can also feature in the Atlanta Dream if she gets picked 12th in the first round. Here, they can use her exceptional shot-blocking potential and scoring expertise to go further than the playoffs.

Undoubtedly, Jessika Carter makes a strong case for herself in the drafts. Regardless of which team she will be a part of, the skills that she brings to the table make her a valuable inclusion. In the meantime, her fans would be hoping that her talent is utilized to the fullest on a professional level.

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Which team you think should pick Jessika Carter?