Doral dealing with injury to Devin Carter as boys’ basketball districts set to begin

Walter Villas
·2 min read

When the boys’ basketball district playoffs begin on Monday, one preseason favorite — Doral Academy — will be extremely shorthanded.

Senior guard Devin Carter, Florida’s reigning Class 7A Player of the Year, will have shoulder surgery this week and is done for the season.

Carter averaged 25.7 points as a junior and 29.1 this season.

“This kid is the best player in Miami and as good as anyone in South Florida,” said Doral coach Jorge Fernandez, who led the Firebirds to a state title in 2017-2018 and a 29-1 record in 2018-2019.

“He’s disappointed. He wants to play. He feels awful, but injuries are part of the game.”

Doral, which is hosting the District 16 Class 6A playoffs after a 16-6 regular season, begins competition on Tuesday against Southridge. Hialeah and Homestead also play a first-round game.

But what makes this district exceptionally difficult is that South Miami and Mater Academy are lurking. They each have first-round byes and could meet on Saturday for the district title if the seeds hold.

South Miami won the GMAC title last week and has made the state semifinals in four of the past six years. Mater is led by 6-7 sophomore forward Malik Reneau, who is a major-college recruit.

Beyond those schools, Class 6A also features GMAC semifinalist North Miami and Broward powers Dillard and Ely — and that’s just in Region 4.

As for Carter — who is the son of former Miami Heat guard Anthony Carter — his next big milestone is deciding on a college scholarship offer. Fernandez said Cal came to watch Carter play Coral Gables; South Carolina made the trip to watch a practice in October; FIU and FAU are recruiting him; East Carolina has been down twice; and Notre Dame and New Mexico have made calls.

Carter is expected to sign in April … but the playoffs will carry on without him.

Among the most intriguing matchups on Monday is Miami High versus Miami Beach at Coral Park. Miami High is led by Justin Neely, who had a 60-point game this season against Coral Park.