BREAKING: UNI’s Second-Leading Scorer Will Transfer to Mizzou
Noah Carter entered the transfer portal on March 23rd, less than a week after UNI's second-round NIT loss to BYU.
Now, less than three weeks later, Carter has decided where he'll use his final two years of eligibility in college basketball.
He'll be playing for the Mizzou Tigers next season.
Carter was a key piece for the regular-season Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) champion Panthers. When it was shared that Austin Phyfe would receive minimal minutes due to conditioning issues set on by the long-haul effects of COVID-19, Carter stepped in and started at the center position. He typically was known as a combo forward, having the capabilities of playing the small and power forward positions.
Even with the significant shift in his role, Carter shined, averaging 15 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and earning a spot on the MVC Second-Team this season.
When 6'6, 230-pound sophomore entered the portal, he received a barrage of attention from potential high-major suitors. The list included, but wasn't limited to, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Virginia Tech, BYU, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Florida, Missouri, and Marquette, according to the deputy sports editor of the Des Moines Register, Matthew Bain.
His final five options were Arkansas, Florida, Virginia Tech, Marquette, and, of course, Missouri.
This was the second season in a row that the Dubuque native entered the portal. Last season he quickly withdrew his name though and decided he'd return for another year at UNI.
In his statement sharing that he'd entered the portal, Carter shared that his time in Cedar Falls was an 'amazing chapter in his life.' It was never shared as to why the decision was made, or if there was any sort of grievance with the UNI basketball program and his role.
According to a source close to Carter, the future Tiger hadn't 'said too much.' About the situation and that he solely wanted to 'venture out and test the waters.'
There were rumors that Carter would enter the portal at different points in the year, especially considering his previous decision to enter as well as the fact that he excelled in his third year at UNI. It was also suggested that he was unhappy with his role at center and desired to play his more traditional position of forward. Those are all speculation and have yet to be confirmed.
Last season, the Tigers went 12-21 overall and 5-13 in the SEC. This offseason, they hired a new head coach, Dennis Gates.
This is what the Mizzou website listed as Gates' accomplishments as a coach: "The program's 20th head coach, Gates joins the Tigers following a three-year run as the head coach at Cleveland State, where he led the Vikings to two Horizon League Championships and back-to-back postseason appearances. ... Gates rebuilt the Vikings program, winning fifty games, earning a 39-19 (.672) mark over the past two seasons. CSU won two Horizon League regular-season titles (2020, 2021), the 2021 Horizon League Tournament Championship, and berths in the NCAA Tournament (2021) and Postseason NIT (2022). He was tabbed as the Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2019-20 and 2020-21. CSU broke the 20-win plateau in 2021-22, a first for the program since 2013-14. The Vikings' NCAA Tournament berth in 2021 was their first in 12 years."
Tre Gomillion from Cleveland State also committed to Missouri, making his decision yesterday, April 11.