40 Walter McCarty

Walter McCarty was born Walter Lee McCarty on February 1, 1974, in Evansville, Indiana.  A versatile forward with a smooth shooting touch and athleticism, McCarty was a key contributor to Kentucky’s 1996 NCAA Championship team before going on to play in the NBA for a decade.

McCarty attended Harrison High School, where he became a standout basketball player. His size (6’10”) and skill set made him one of the top recruits in the country.  He averaged 22 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 3.6 bpg and 2.8 apg as a senior and was selected first-team All-State, All-City, and All-Metro as a senior.  McCarty was selected third-team Parade All-America and he was voted runner-up to Indiana Mr. Basketball.  McCarty also ran track and finished third in the state in the 800 meters.  He enjoyed singing Rhythm and Blues and sang the National Anthem at the UK vs. Indiana game, on 1/3/93, in Louisville.  McCarty was part of Kentucky’s clean sweep at 1991 Big Blue Madness; McCarty, Tony Delk, Rodrick Rhodes, and Jared Prickett all attended Big Blue Madness, then signed with Kentucky.

McCarty played three seasons for the Kentucky Wildcats from 1993 to 1996, developing into an essential part of Pitino’s fast-paced system.

As a sophomore at Kentucky, McCarty played in all 34 games and started 10.  He made his first career start against Ole Miss, 1/12/94, scoring a career-high 24 points (8-10 FG, 4-5 3PT).  He was Player of the Game for the Ole Miss and LSU outings.  McCarty hit four key three-pointers during UK’s comeback at LSU, including one with 19 seconds remaining to give UK the lead.  He finished the season tied (with Travis Ford) for second best three-point percentage (38.0) on the team.

As a junior, McCarty concluded a successful season as a third-team All-SEC selection by the AP.  He played in all 33 games, starting 27 times.  He was third on the squad in scoring, averaging 10.5 ppg and second on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.6 RPG.  McCarty was named the team’s Co-MVP and Mr. Positive by Pitino and was named Player of the Game seven times — vs. Indiana, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, Mount St. Mary’s and North Carolina.

As a senior in 1995-96, McCarty played a crucial role in helping the Wildcats win the 1996 NCAA Championship. Nicknamed the “Untouchables”, that team was one of the most dominant in college basketball history, featuring future NBA players Antoine Walker, Tony Delk, Derek Anderson, and Ron Mercer.

McCarty was known for his outside shooting, rebounding, and defensive versatility, which allowed him to play both forward positions effectively.

During his three-year college career, McCarty averaged 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game before declaring for the 1996 NBA Draft.

McCarty was selected 19th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, but he spent the majority of his professional career with the Boston Celtics.  Over his NBA career, McCarty played in 583 games, averaging 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.

After retiring as a player, McCarty transitioned into coaching and broadcasting:

• Assistant Coach – Louisville (2007-2010): Worked under Rick Pitino.
• Assistant Coach – Indiana Pacers (2010-2011): Joined the NBA coaching ranks.
• Assistant Coach – Boston Celtics (2013-2018): Worked with Brad Stevens and helped develop young players.
• Head Coach – Evansville (2018-2020): Became the head coach at his hometown University of Evansville, leading them to a historic win over No. 1-ranked Kentucky in 2019.

McCarty was later dismissed from Evansville due to off-court issues but remains well-regarded in basketball circles.