Derrick Caracter
Derrick Caracter | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 4, 1988 Fanwood, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional basketball player (retired) |
| Years active | 2006–2018 |
| Known for | Playing for Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA |
Derrick Eugene Caracter (born May 4, 1988) is a retired American professional basketball athlete who last competed with the Capitanes de Arecibo in Puerto Rico's Baloncesto Superior Nacional. His collegiate basketball tenure included stints with the Louisville Cardinals and UTEP Miners, and he spent one season in the NBA playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.
High school and college career
Raised in Fanwood, New Jersey, Caracter garnered attention from college recruiters by the age of 14. His high school basketball journey began at St. Patrick High School, followed by a transfer to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School during his sophomore year. He later returned to St. Patrick’s before completing his prep education at Notre Dame Prep, where he concentrated on his academic development.
Caracter commenced his collegiate basketball career at the University of Louisville in 2006. He initially declared for the 2008 NBA Draft but withdrew, subsequently leaving Louisville that summer to enroll at the UTEP. After sitting out the 2008–09 season in compliance with NCAA transfer regulations, he appeared in 27 games during the 2009–10 season, posting averages of 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Across three collegiate seasons, Caracter recorded averages of 10.2 points (.560 field goal percentage) and 5.6 rebounds over 80 contests, including 36 starts.
2010–11 season
Selected 58th overall in the 2010 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Caracter inked a multi-year rookie contract on August 15, 2010. He participated in the Lakers’ 2010 NBA Summer League roster. Throughout the season, he experienced several assignments to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League, with intermittent recalls to the Lakers’ main squad.
2011–12 season
On December 12, 2011, Caracter sustained a tear to his left lateral meniscus during practice, resulting in a period away from competition for rehabilitation. He was sent to the Los Angeles D-Fenders on January 25, 2012, recalled by the Lakers on February 7, but was waived later that same day. Following this, he signed with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on February 22 but was released on March 22. Shortly after, on March 26, he joined the Idaho Stampede. On April 21, Caracter agreed to a contract with Mets de Guaynabo for the remainder of the 2012 season in Puerto Rico’s BSN, debuting with a performance of 17 points and five rebounds over 19 minutes before departing on May 1.
2012–13 season
In July 2012, Caracter took part in the NBA Summer League representing the Atlanta Hawks before signing for China’s Guangdong Southern Tigers for the 2012–13 campaign. However, he left after participating in just one pre-season game on November 19. Subsequently, on December 4, he secured a contract with Israeli club Bnei Herzliya for the remainder of that season.
2013–14 season
Caracter signed with Polish team Śląsk Wrocław on August 26, 2013; however, he was released prior to appearing in any games on September 4. On October 11, he joined Lithuanian side BC Pieno žvaigždės for the rest of the season but exited in December. On January 29, 2014, he returned to play for the Idaho Stampede.
2014–15 season
On September 19, 2014, Caracter inked a one-year deal with Flamengo Basketball competing in the Novo Basquete Brasil. Just nine days afterward, he played a role in Flamengo securing the 2014 FIBA Intercontinental Cup, before parting ways with the team in October. In early 2015, he had brief engagements in both Taiwan and Uruguay, then on March 11, he signed with the GlobalPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association.
2015–16 season
Caracter joined the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League on October 31, 2015. He made his debut on November 14, recording seven points and nine rebounds over 21 minutes in an 83–79 defeat against the Westchester Knicks. Across 24 games, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.6 rebounds before being released on February 2, 2016. Subsequently, on February 24, he signed with Hapoel Ramat Gan Givatayim competing in the Liga Leumit.
2016–17 season
On September 6, 2016, Caracter agreed to terms with BC Prievidza of Slovakia’s Extraliga. After participating in two matches, he departed and on October 5, 2016, joined Israeli squad A.S. Ramat HaSharon in the Liga Leumit. Later that year, on December 28, he transferred to Argentina’s Atletico Echague Parana in the Liga Nacional de Básquet.
2017–18 season
Caracter signed with Capitanes de Arecibo on January 11, 2018.
Regular season
|- | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers | 41 || 0 || 5.2 || .485 || .000 || .739 || 1.0 || .2 || .1 || .2 || 2.0 |- | style="text-align:left;"| Career | style="text-align:left;"| | 41 || 0 || 5.2 || .485 || .000 || .739 || 1.0 || .2 || .1 || .2 || 2.0