Derrick Caracter

{{Infobox basketball biography

| image = Derrick Caracter cropped.jpg

| number =

| position = Power forward / center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 9

| weight_lb = 276

| league =

| team =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1988|5|4}}

| birth_place = Fanwood, New Jersey, U.S.

| high_school = St. Patrick (Elizabeth, New Jersey)
Scotch Plains-Fanwood
(Scotch Plains, New Jersey)
Notre Dame Prep
(Fitchburg, Massachusetts)

| college = *Louisville (2006–2008)

UTEP (2009–2010)

| draft_year = 2010

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 58

| draft_team = Los Angeles Lakers

| career_start = 2010

| career_end = 2018

| years1 = {{nbay|2010|start}}–{{nbay|2011|end}}

| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers

| years2 = 2011

| team2 = →Bakersfield Jam

| years3 = 2012

| team3 = →Los Angeles D-Fenders

| years4 = 2012

| team4 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers

| years5 = 2012

| team5 = Idaho Stampede

| years6 = 2012

| team6 = Mets de Guaynabo

| years7 = 2012–2013

| team7 = Bnei Herzliya

| years8 = 2013

| team8 = Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys

| years9 = 2014

| team9 = Old Bridge High School

| years10 = 2014

| team10 = Flamengo

| years11 = 2015

| team11 = Yulon Dinos

| years12 = 2015

| team12 = Club Atlético Atenas

| years13 = 2015

| team13 = GlobalPort Batang Pier

| years14 = 2015–2016

| team14 = Erie BayHawks

| years15 = 2016

| team15 = Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim

| years16 = 2016

| team16 = Prievidza

| years17 = 2016

| team17 = A.S. Ramat HaSharon

| years18 = 2017

| team18 = Atletico Echague Parana

| years19 = 2018

| team19 = Capitanes de Arecibo

| highlights = *FIBA Intercontinental Cup champion (2014)

Second-team All-C-USA (2010)

}}

Derrick Eugene Caracter (born May 4, 1988) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for Capitanes de Arecibo of the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. He played college basketball for Louisville and UTEP. Caracter played one season in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.

High school and college career

Caracter grew up in Fanwood, New Jersey. He began attracting interest from college scouts in 2002 at the age of 14.{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=Seth |title=Looming Large Derrick Caracter, a 14-year-old eighth-grader who is 6'9" and 286 pounds, has college scouts drooling |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2002/08/12/327654/looming-large-derrick-caracter-a-14-year-old-eighth-grader-who-is-69quot-and-286-pounds-has-college-scouts-drooling |website=Sports Illustrated |publisher=© 2019 TI Gotham Inc., a subsidiary of Meredith Corporation. Sports Illustrated Group. |access-date=28 December 2019 |date=12 August 2002}} He played high school basketball at St. Patrick High School as a freshman, and attended Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School as a sophomore before returning to St. Patrick's for his junior year. Caracter transferred to a boarding school, Notre Dame Preparatory School, during his senior year to focus on academics. In 2006, he began his college career at the University of Louisville.[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/sports/ncaabasketball/18caracter.html Can't-Miss Prospect May Make It After All]

He withdrew from the 2008 NBA Draft and later that summer left the University of Louisville. He then enrolled at UTEP and, as required by NCAA regulations, sat out the 2008–09 basketball season. He became eligible to play in the second half of the 2009–10 season where he averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 games as a junior with the Miners. In three college seasons, he averaged 10.2 points (.560 FG%) and 5.6 rebounds in 80 games (36 starts).

Professional career

=Los Angeles Lakers (2010–2012)=

==2010–11 season==

Caracter was selected with the 58th overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2010 NBA draft. He joined the Lakers for the 2010 NBA Summer League. On August 15, 2010, he signed a multi-year, rookie deal with the Lakers.[https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5461968 Lakers sign Derrick Caracter] On March 29, 2011, he was assigned to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League.[http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakersblog/2011/03/derrick-caracter-assigned-to-d-league-team-in-bakersfield.html?cid=6a00d8341c506253ef014e8719bd6d970d Derrick Caracter sent by Lakers to D-League team in Bakersfield] On April 5, 2011, he was recalled by the Lakers. He was reassigned to the Jam the next day. On April 13, he was again recalled by the Lakers.[http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Derrick-Caracter/Summary/2581 Derrick Caracter Player Profile – RealGM]

==2011–12 season==

On December 12, 2011, Caracter tore his left lateral meniscus during practice.[https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/24470/derrick-caracter-has-torn-lateral-meniscus Derrick Caracter has torn lateral meniscus] Throughout rehabilitation he attended team games, but didn't return to play. On January 25, 2012, he was assigned to the Los Angeles D-Fenders.[http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/120125_caracter_dfenders.html LAKERS ASSIGN DERRICK CARACTER TO LOS ANGELES D-FENDERS] On February 7, 2012, he was recalled by the Lakers and subsequently waived the same day.[http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/120207_waive_caracter.html LAKERS WAIVE DERRICK CARACTER]

On February 22, 2012, he was acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. On March 22, 2012, he was waived by the Vipers. On March 26, 2012, he was acquired by the Idaho Stampede. On April 21, 2012, he signed with Mets de Guaynabo for the rest of the 2012 BSN season.[http://www.sportando.net/eng/world/america/37932/mets-de-guaynabo-land-former-laker-derrick-caracter.html Mets de Guaynabo land former Laker Derrick Caracter] In his debut, he recorded 17 points and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes of play.[http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2012/4/22/2965317/former-laker-caracter-signs-in-puerto-rico-chance-to-battle-back-to Former Laker Caracter Signs In Puerto Rico, Chance To Battle Back To NBA] On May 1, 2012, he left Mets de Guaynabo.[http://www.sportando.net/eng/world/america/38264/mets-de-guaynabo-replace-derrick-caracter-with-will-mcdonald.html Mets de Guaynabo replace Derrick Caracter with Will McDonald]

=2012–13 season=

In July 2012, he joined the Atlanta Hawks for the 2012 NBA Summer League. He later signed with Guangdong Southern Tigers of China for the 2012–13 season. On November 19, 2012, he left Guangdong after one pre-season game.[http://www.sportando.net/eng/world/asia/46487/guangdong-southern-tigers-sign-ike-diogu-to-replace-derrick-caracter.html Guangdong Southern Tigers sign Ike Diogu to replace Derrick Caracter]

On December 4, 2012, he signed with Bnei Herzliya of Israel for the rest of the season.{{cite news|title=Derrick Caracter signs with Bnei Herzliya|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/israel/47331/derrick-caracter-signs-with-bnei-herzliya.html|access-date=January 27, 2014|work=Sportando.net|date=December 4, 2012}}

=2013–14 season=

On August 26, 2013, he signed with Śląsk Wrocław of Poland.[http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/poland/62226/slask-wroclaw-sign-derrick-caracter-and-jakub-parzenski.html Slask Wroclaw sign Derrick Caracter and Jakub Parzenski] On September 4, 2013, he was released before playing in a game for them.{{cite news|title=Dwaj nowi Amerykanie. Caracter poza Śląskiem!|url=http://www.slask.polskikosz.pl/index.php?Action=Full&NewsID=2328|date=September 4, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2013|work=SLASK.polskikosz.pl|language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112182341/http://www.slask.polskikosz.pl/index.php?Action=Full&NewsID=2328|archive-date=November 12, 2013|url-status=dead}}[http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/poland/62772/zeke-marshall-replaces-derrick-caracter-in-slask-wroclaw.html Zeke Marshall replaces Derrick Caracter in Slask Wroclaw]

On October 11, 2013, he signed with BC Pieno žvaigždės of Lithuania for the rest of the 2013–14 season.[http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/lithuania/65064/derrick-caracter-signs-with-pieno-zvaigzdes.html Derrick Caracter signs with Pieno Zvaigzdes] In December 2013, he left Pieno.

On January 29, 2014, he was acquired by the Idaho Stampede.[http://www.nba.com/dleague/idaho/stampede_acquire_derrick_carac_2014_01_29.html Stampede Acquire Derrick Caracter] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413175354/http://www.nba.com/dleague/idaho/stampede_acquire_derrick_carac_2014_01_29.html |date=2014-04-13 }}

=2014–15 season=

On September 19, 2014, Caracter signed a one-year deal with Flamengo Basketball of the Novo Basquete Brasil.[http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/135357/flamengo-signs-derrick-caracter.html Flamengo signs Derrick Caracter] He went on to help Flamengo win the 2014 FIBA Intercontinental Cup nine days later before leaving the club in October 2014. He went on to have a stint in Taiwan and Uruguay in early 2015 before signing with GlobalPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association on March 11.[http://www.sportando.com/en/world/asia/154951/derrick-caracter-moves-to-global-port.html Derrick Caracter moves to Global Port]

=2015–16 season=

On October 31, 2015, Caracter was acquired by the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/erie-bayhawks-announce-affiliate-returning-players/n-5065433|title=Erie BayHawks Announce Affiliate, Returning Players|work=OurSportsCentral.com|date=October 31, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2015}} On November 14, he made his debut for the BayHawks in an 83–79 loss to the Westchester Knicks, recording seven points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes.{{cite web|url=http://dleague.nba.com/games/20151114/ERIWES/|title=Summers Scores 30 as Knicks Claw Back to Top BayHawks|work=NBA.com|date=November 14, 2015|access-date=November 14, 2015}} On February 2, 2016, he was waived by the BayHawks. In 24 games, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.6 rebounds on 44% shooting in 11.3 minutes of play.{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/bayhawks-make-roster-moves/n-5096491|title=BayHawks Make Roster Moves|work=OurSportsCentral.com|date=February 2, 2016|access-date=February 2, 2016}} On February 24, he signed with Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim of the Liga Leumit.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurobasket.com/Israel/news/438848/Derrick-Caracter-agreed-terms-with-Hapoel-Ramat-Gan-Givataim|title=Derrick Caracter agreed terms with Hapoel Ramat Gan Givataim|work=Eurobasket.com|date=February 24, 2016|access-date=April 5, 2016}}

=2016–17 season=

On September 6, 2016, Caracter signed with BC Prievidza of the Slovakian Extraliga.{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/slovakia/211211/derrick-caracter-signs-with-bc-prievidza.html|title=Derrick Caracter signs with BC Prievidza|publisher=Sportando.com|date=6 September 2016|access-date=6 September 2016}} He left Prievidza after appearing in only two games, and on October 5, 2016, he signed with Israeli club A.S. Ramat HaSharon of the Liga Leumit.[http://www.eurobasket.com/Israel/news/465040/Ramat-Hasharon-inks-Derrick-Caracter,-ex-Prievidza Ramat Hasharon inks Derrick Caracter, ex Prievidza][http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/213552/derrick-caracter-inks-with-ramat-hasharon.html Derrick Caracter inks with Ramat Hasharon] On December 28, 2016, he left Hasharon and signed in Argentina with Atletico Echague Parana of the Liga Nacional de Básquet.[http://www.laliganacional.com.ar/laliga/page/noticias/id/10815/title/Echagüe-contrató-a-Derrick-Caracter Echagüe contrató a Derrick Caracter] {{in lang|es}}

=2017–18 season=

On January 11, 2018, Caracter signed with Capitanes de Arecibo.{{cite news|title=Capitanes de Arecibo sign Derrick Caracter|url=https://www.sportando.com/en/america/puerto-rico/260834/capitanes-de-arecibo-sign-derrick-caracter.html|access-date=January 12, 2018|work=Sportando.com|date=January 11, 2018}}