Carrera returns for one last game at S.C. ProAm

Nobody told Michael Carrera it might be a good idea not to play in the S.C. Pro-Am.

Not that he’d have listened. There was a ball, there was a court, it was in Columbia – why wouldn’t he play?

Carrera, South Carolina’s departed senior who recently finished a summer-league stint with the Miami Heat, was back in action on Tuesday, donning a Bernie’s Chicken jersey and showcasing everything Gamecocks fans adored. Passionate, energetic, unwilling to quit – the same terms that described every game Carrera played for four years were fully on display.

Stroking 3-pointers and hollering for his coach to let him shoot more. Blasting some unsuspecting forward into the padded wall like he was in a hockey rink. Refusing to back down, even when going against former teammates in a pickup game.

He played way out of position at center, yet still recorded seven assists. Carrera ended with 23 points, 20 rebounds and returned to the waiting game.

As soon as the Heat’s summer season ended, Carrera was on standby. As usual, he impressed some bigwigs with his intense style. And as usual, he knows that there are people who doubt him.

“All I have to do is wait until not only the Heat, but any other teams that might call, give me a call for camp,” he said. “I’m just ready, taking my time, and if I don’t get a call, I’m going to Europe.”

As much as Carrera can bring to a team, he’s realistic about his chances to stick in the NBA. Not that USC alum free agents haven’t made the NBA (Brandon Wallace, Tarence Kinsey), but Carrera, at the end of the day, is a 6-foot-5 kid who hustles.

Not 7-2 who hustles, or 5-9 who scores 30 a game and hustles. That’s OK – Carrera has battled detractors his whole career. What’s a few more?

“I know I left a pretty good impression on the court, with fighting and how much I wanted to win,” he said. “I think the Heat’s going to see that. If it happens, it happens. If not, I’m just going to keep trying.”

Carrera said he has offers in Israel, Spain and Germany, among others. He reckons he needs to work on his ball-handling, as well as trying to improve his jumper.

His stint in the NBA also taught him about its versions of spreading the floor and defense.

“It’s something you have to learn quick,” Carrera said. “The defense, of course, I help everybody on defense. I think I learned a pretty good knowledge of the game.”

He’ll play somewhere next year, and be in Columbia when he can. From his native Venezuela to high school in Maryland, Carrera found his once and future home.

“The next head coach in Gamecock Nation!” he said with the familiar smile, when asked about life beyond basketball, whenever that might be. “No, I don’t know. I would love to come back here. I want to raise my family here and bring my family from Venezuela here. I would love to come back here and just be here.”

The S.C. Pro-Am playoffs begin at 6:15 p.m. Thursday. They’ll continue at 7 p.m. on Friday and finish with the championship at 3 p.m. on Sunday. All games are at Heathwood Hall and free of charge.

This story was originally published July 19, 2016 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Carrera returns for one last game at S.C. ProAm."