Carr stands tall as starter in GCU debut

Whether it was practicing on the scout team or working out with coaches after team workouts, freshman center Isaiah Carr spent November and December getting better for when he could help Grand Canyon.

That day came sooner than he expected. Plans to redshirt the 6-foot-11 senior changed with junior power forward Yvan Ouedraogo needing surgery on a left hand fracture two weeks ago. Instead, Carr leaped to starting his collegiate debut Thursday night when he stood tall to help GCU beat California Baptist in its WAC opener.

Before his initial shot was robbed of his first points by a missed goaltending call, Carr already had impacted the game on the first three defensive possessions – switching onto touted point guard Taran Amstrong to alter his missed floater, keeping 7-foot Georgetown transfer Tim Ighoefe from low post position before he missed a long post-up shot and denying an entry pass to Ighoefe on the block.

"I was nervous for a bit," said Carr, whose previous game that counted was the New Mexico state championship on March 12. "There was a bunch of adrenalin running through me, that's for sure. When I got to the tip, I felt a calm. It felt like I was supposed to be in this position, and it felt good. Sitting on the bench with these guys and getting my name called, that's a very special place to be, especially as a freshman, and I'm not going to take that for granted."

The native of Las Cruces, New Mexico, recorded three points, three rebounds, a blocked shot and an assist in 12 minutes of action.

Carr scored his first points when sophomore guard Ray Harrison set him up inside and Carr drew a foul going to the opposite side of the rim. He added a bucket later when junior point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. was double-teamed and fed Carr diving to the rim for a left-handed finish.

"For his first game and starting his first conference game, I thought he did a great job," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "I thought he played with a lot of poise and composure out there. His length helped us around the rim. There's a lot to grow and get better from, but he did a great job."

When Drew first broached the idea of playing this season with the WAC schedule and WAC Tournament still ahead, Carr quickly saw the merits of forgoing a redshirt season. He could wind up playing more than 20 games.

"This is a huge opportunity to show what I've been working on," said Carr, who added 30 pounds since signing with GCU to weigh 240 now. "This is a team. I signed up for a scholarship to play here. If I'm not taking the opportunity to play, what am I doing?"

Carr's father, Nathan, immediately said, "Yes, take it," and cited scripture to back the notion.

"What decision is safe and what decision is scary?" Carr said his father asked him. "It's right there for you. God wants to push you into what makes you uncomfortable. If you're tested, you're going to be prepared for it."

After a crash course from coaches and encouragement from teammates, Carr walked into a game-day white board with messaging that showed him as a starter for the CBU game that GCU won 73-59..

"Let's rock and roll," Carr said he thought to himself before delivering a composed, consistent performance with solid screens, switches and boxouts.

His uncle, aunt and cousins came to GCU Arena to attend his debut, which caught campus friends on winter break and friends in Las Cruces off guard to lead to his phone being blown up with postgame congratulatory messages.

"I want to work harder so I can keep that starting spot," Carr said. "Even if I don't get a lot of minutes, I still want to be a big presence on the court."

The freshman @isaiah_carr24 making an impact on 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀! 💪 pic.twitter.com/WnBhB9nQlJ
— Grand Canyon Men's Basketball (@GCU_MBB) December 30, 2022

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Jovan Blacksher Jr.

Isaiah Carr

Ray Harrison

Yvan Ouedraogo

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