America's top defensive end also plays a key role on a defending state champion basketball team.
Lorenzo Carter can be called many good things. Perhaps the most impressive adjective is champion, as he helped lead his football and basketball squads to Georgia state crowns.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
is living a charmed existence as it pertains to his high school athletic career.
As a junior, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound defensive end helped the
Norcross (Ga.) football team go 15-0 en route to
Georgia's Class AAAAAA state title. The Blue Devils finished the 2012 season ranked No. 16 nationally by MaxPreps and head into this fall as a state and national title contender once again.
Carter lends his time to his classmates to help them learn English.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Carter's run of success continued with the powerhouse Norcross hoops team, which has produced standouts like Jodie Meeks, Gani Lawal, Al-Farouq Aminu and Jeremy Lamb in recent years. After a late arrival following football, the hulking power forward helped the Blue Devils win their final 17 games to capture the school's fifth state crown since 2006.
Despite his status as the nation's
No. 4 overall football recruit in the Class of 2014 by 247Sports.com, basketball was actually Carter's first love. After fouling out of one too many games as a seventh grader due to his aggressive nature, coaches pushed him toward the gridiron.
Carter was a finalist for
MaxPreps 2012-13 Male Athlete of the Year honors, won by Alabama-bound running back Derrick Henry.
See our special Lorenzo Carter photo gallery
"Zo" is getting plenty done outside of athletics, as well. According to Norcross basketball coach Jesse McMillan, Carter is an honors student, an active mentor for underclassmen at Norcross and a lunchtime volunteer for the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).
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LORENZO CARTER BIO
Hometown: Norcross, Ga.
Carter is not in a hurry to announce the college of hischoosing, as he will wait until well after the footballseason has ended before he reveals his choice.
Photo by Dennis Carter
(enrollment 2,943)
Class: 2014
Sports: Football, basketball
College plans: Carter intends to wait until National Signing Day next February to make his college decision. Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Notre Dame are all under consideration. Gerry Hamilton of 247Sports.com gives the edge to Alabama.
All in the family: Despite winning a basketball state title last season at Norcross, Carter isn't the most accomplished basketball player in his family. That honor goes to his sister, Larrisa Carter, a senior-to-be at Coppin State University.
Larrisa started 29 games last season for the Eagles and averaged 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Like her younger brother, she was a multi-sport standout in high school, lettering in volleyball in addition to hoops.
No offense: "I just love defense," Carter said of his preference for that side of the ball on the gridiron. "I love tackling people. I can't stand offense. I just don't like it at all."{PAGEBREAK}
CARTER ON THE GRIDIRON
Carter is a monster on the stat sheet from his defensive end position, a terror that opponents have definitely not found a way to neutralize.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Carter not only looks the part of elite defensive end prospect, he plays the part. He was simply dominant on the field last fall, tallying 10 or more tackles in a game five times. His signature performance came in a 35-23 win over Collins Hill where he piled up 15 tackles and four sacks.
Carter has a legitimate disdain for playing offense, sodon't expect double duty out of this star.
Photo by Dennis Carter
He also recorded 12 tackles and forced a fumble in the Blue Devils' 21-14 win over Lovejoy in the Class AAAAAA title game. Among Carter's other exploits:
* Ranked the nation's No. 1 defensive end prospect by 247Sports.com and No. 4 overall recruit in the Class of 2014.
* Recorded 136 tackles and 18 sacks during a state championship run last season, garnering
first team Junior All-American honors from MaxPreps.
* Thanks in part to Carter's presence, the Norcross defense limited opponents to 13.4 points per game last fall. Six of 10 regular season opponents were held to seven points or less.
* Helped Norcross seal victory in state championship game victory over Lovejoy by assisting on key fourth-and-1 stop late in contest.
* As a sophomore at Whitefield Academy, registered 91 tackles and six sacks. Also saw time at tight end (despite his disdain for the offensive side of the ball) and caught six passes for 104 yards and two scores.{PAGEBREAK}
CARTER ON THE BASKETBALL COURT
Carter's excellence extends to the hardwood as well.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Before Carter shot to the top of the football prospect rankings, he garnered considerable attention as a potential Division I basketball recruit. Norcross struggled out of the gates without him last season, going 5-3 before he wrapped up football. The Blue Devils went 22-3 the rest of the way en route to the Class AAAAAA state title.
Just two seniors were on the roster last season for head coach Jesse McMillan's squad, making Norcross a prime candidate for the preseason national rankings and yet another state crown.
More on Carter's hardwood heroics:
* Carter posted 10.5 points, 8 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game last season playing in a deep rotation.
* Earned Class AAAAAA All-State and All-Gwinnett honorable mention from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution despite missing first eight games of the season.
* College football coaches were frequent visitors to Norcross basketball practices during the second half of season. According to McMillan, one SEC head coach had to be asked to tone down his enthusiasm for Carter's efforts during a scrimmage.
* Also won a state title as a sophomore at Whitefield Academy, averaging 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocked shots per game.{PAGEBREAK}
VIDEO ON CARTER
