[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2025 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Carter Bryant
Frame: 6’7”, 215 lbs
Position: Forward
School: Arizona Wildcats
2025 Draft Age: 19
Stats via espn.com

Offense

Bryant has offensive potential, but has a long way to go to realize it. He is a high-flying wing who shot the ball at a 37.1 percent clip from behind the arc. Bryant is an active cutter with impressive finishing abilities in transition.

While this all sounds great, the sample size is relatively low, which begs questions of reliability. His per-40 numbers look solid, but with only 19.3 minutes and 4.8 field goal attempts per game, there isn’t much that can be said about Bryant’s offensive game.

He is ahead of his age in size, built like a six-year pro and can throw down nasty slams when given the opportunity. However, if a defender is in his way, he tends to settle for a kickout instead of drawing contact. To become a greater threat at the rim, he will need to use his size to his advantage more when attacking. 

At this point, Bryant’s ceiling appears limited without shot-creation ability. He is not an intimidating ball handler, nor does he boast a quick first step or jump shot. He did more damage with a set shot off the catch. He does a good job of squaring his body and setting his feet before firing the shot, but he could stand to rely less on the fundamentals and more on pure skill to give himself more opportunities. 

Bryant also got a lot of his points off backdoor cuts. He did a good job of seeing off-ball lanes and putting himself in a position to score above the rim. He has all the necessary tools to become a quality complementary player on the wing. He must focus on developing his shooting versatility so he becomes more than just a corner threat at the next level. If he can combine that with his athletic 39.5-inch vertical, Bryant becomes a more valuable contributor on offense.

Defense

Bryant should cement himself as a lottery pick by what he does on the defensive side of the ball. His instincts, combined with his size and motor, will allow him to guard the three wing positions out of the gate in the NBA. 

His size and almost seven-foot wingspan make him very switchable, which means he can play in any defensive lineup. With his natural frame, he is also surprisingly fundamentally sound for someone his age and his limited minutes at Arizona. He slides his feet exceptionally well and does a great job cutting off his opponents’ angles when guarding them in isolation. 

Bryant is always ready in defensive position on or off the ball, with his legs bent, arms out, and never on his heels, which enables him to be a reliable weakside helper as he puts himself in excellent position to protect the rim (1.0 blocks per game this season).

His consistent proper positioning also allows him to close out effectively, rotating quickly and getting to the shooter before they release the ball. His strong instincts also keep him from hedging too far off his assignment when on the weak side.

Bryant’s primary area for improvement defensively is his tendency to take unnecessary fouls (2.3 per game). He appears to try too hard to establish himself at times instead of letting the defensive play come to him, which leads to overly aggressive foul-taking.

Looking Ahead

With his size, IQ, and instincts, the 19-year-old forward can make an immediate defensive impact for an NBA team. He displays shades of Toumani Camara and OG Anunoby, with similar frames, defensive IQ, and a complementary approach to the offensive end.

Offensively, Bryant has a lot of work to do if he wants to make a consistent impact. He is athletic, a great cutter, and has displayed much potential as a spot-up wing shooter. Still, he must become more reliable in these categories to achieve quality 3-and-D status. If he wants to push past that, he must grow as a shot creator. 

Do not expect significant minutes from Bryant out of the gate. He will likely need some time in the G League to understand the sort of offensive prowess he will need to reach to earn serious floor time in the NBA. However, you can expect to see Bryant on the floor when his team needs a defensive stop.