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Mind Over Matter: DJ Carton on Journey to the NBA, Time With the Toronto Raptors, Navigating Adversity, Passions Beyond the Game, and More

Photograph courtesy of DJ Carton (@djcarton)
Photograph courtesy of DJ Carton (@djcarton)

"Mind Over Matter." A simple yet complex phrase that has guided DJ Carton through the ebbs and flows of his journey; and one that reminds him time and time again that life is all about perspective. For DJ, his connection to the world of sports begins in the Quad Cities at a young age. From baseball to basketball to football, he remembers playing an array of sports growing up but specifically becoming intrigued by the game of basketball early on. There was something unique about the game that quickly captivated him. Its speed. Its competitive nature. Its culture. It was in watching March Madness matches with his grandfather though that DJ confirmed his passion for the game, and interest in embarking on a journey of his own in the sport. This was just the beginning. After fully committing in eighth grade to playing basketball, DJ began training day after day to expand his skills on the court and deepen his knowledge of the game. From that point forward, the goal was clear: to play basketball at the collegiate level. He was all in. Over the next few years, DJ continued to build his confidence, elevate his game, and expand his vision. Now, it was bigger than college basketball. He wanted to play the sport at the highest level. Sure enough, he did just that. After a stellar high school basketball career at Bettendorf High School—where he became a consensus top-35 recruit as a senior and earned the 2019 Iowa’s Mr. Basketball honor—, DJ began his collegiate journey at Ohio State University. It was up from there.

Following his freshman season, DJ transferred to Marquette University and continued to work towards his dream of playing basketball at the highest level. He was on a mission. In 2021, DJ took that next step and declared for the NBA Draft. The rest is history! From the Greensboro Swarm to the Iowa Wolves to the Toronto Raptors, DJ has played for several teams across the league since. The journey has not been without trials and tribulations though. From injuries to the business side of professional sports to balancing life beyond the game, DJ has navigated through an array of challenges throughout his professional career. Currently recovering

from an ankle injury, DJ is more focused than ever to get back out on the court, make an impact, and play the game he loves. Through it all, he remains grounded on three important lifelong lessons he has learned along the way: 1) embrace every opportunity, 2) fall in love with the process, and 3) remember that your mind is your most powerful tool.


Photograph courtesy of DJ Carton (@djcarton)
Photograph courtesy of DJ Carton (@djcarton)

Photograph courtesy of DJ Carton (@djcarton)
Photograph courtesy of DJ Carton (@djcarton)

Let’s start with your journey in high school! You were a top-35 recruit and also earned Iowa's Mr. Basketball as a senior. As you reflect back on your time in high school, what did earning those honors and achieving those milestones mean to you?


They meant a lot. It was just nice to receive those knowing that all the hard work I put into it paid off. I had a great support system. I still do, but during that time it was just awesome that we could all celebrate that accomplishment as a family. It was nice to know that the hard work was paying off and I was going in the right direction. I had some good competitors in school growing up and in AAU, so it was cool to just be able to compare your game to other ones across the country and see where you stood on that level—and then try to find ways to get better (from there).


As you took the next step and embarked on your collegiate career at Ohio State, how was that transition from high school to college like for you? Take us through that journey early on.


Yeah! It was way different. I'm from Iowa—a very small populated city. We don't have very many people here. I'm pretty sure when I went to Ohio State, there were probably just as many undergrad students as there were people in my city that I grew up in. It was a way different vibe. I probably got more attention than I was ever used to, so it was really just a change of lifestyle for me. I was getting notoriety and stuff like that, and just learning how to work around that type of attention (was key). It was fun. It was a time where I was able to find myself, find different interests I have in life, and then also just create a lot of relationships that I still have to this day. My freshman year was a great learning experience and it was fun to compete in the Big 10 around the Midwest.


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