5 Josh Carrier

Josh Carrier was born Joshua Drew Carrier on January 7, 1982, in Bowling Green, Kentucky to Darel and Donna Carter.  His father, Darel, was an All-American at Western Kentucky.  Josh played for the University of Kentucky Wildcats from 2000 to 2004. Known for his work ethic and perimeter shooting, Carrier played as a guard under head coach Tubby Smith and was a key role player during his time with the Wildcats.

Carrier grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and attended Bowling Green High School, where he established himself as one of the top basketball players in the state.  Carrier was named Kentucky’s 2001 Mr. Basketball after averaging 23.7 points and 5.0 rebounds in his senior season, while leading Bowling Green to a 23-6 record.  He closed out his career as the all-time leading scorer at Bowling Green with 1,955 points.  He also holds the school record for single-game scoring with 53 points.  Carrier averaged 23.8 ppg while shooting 45 percent as a junior.

His sharpshooting and strong academic performance earned him an opportunity to play for his home-state Kentucky Wildcats, a dream for many young basketball players in Kentucky.

Carrier joined the Wildcats in 2000 and played four seasons, contributing primarily as a three-point specialist and role player off the bench. While he wasn’t a primary scoring option, he provided depth in the backcourt and was a valuable teammate during Kentucky’s deep NCAA Tournament runs.

As a freshman at Kentucky, Carrier played in 16 games and received the “Best Individual Workout” award by the coaching staff.

As a sophomore, Carrier played in 28 games, averaging 1.4 ppg and 0.8 RPG. He played a career-high 18 minutes against Virginia in the Maui Invitational.  He scored a career-high eight points against Tennessee State on Dec. 30 on 3-for-5 shooting and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.  Carrier scored five points in the NCAA Regional Final against Marquette, burying a three-pointer and two free throws late in the game.  Carrier was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Carrier played in 25 games as a junior, averaging a career-best 8.1 minutes per game.  He averaged nearly 10 minutes a game in SEC action.  Carrier tied career highs with a pair of three-pointers in 18 minutes at Notre Dame.  Carrier was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Carrier played in 26 games as a senior.  Carrier was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

During his time at Kentucky, the Wildcats enjoyed consistent success, including multiple SEC Championships and deep tournament appearances. Carrier was part of the 2002–03 team that went 32-4 and earned a No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. His best statistical season came during his senior year in 2003–04, when he saw increased playing time and served as a veteran presence on the team.

After his college playing days, Carrier transitioned into coaching and education. He has remained involved in basketball, sharing his knowledge and experience with young athletes.