Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information about Willie McCarter:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Willie J. McCarter
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born July 26, 1946
  • Hometown: Gary, Indiana
  • Height: 6 feet 4 inches (1.91 m)
  • Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 4 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
  • Number: Wore #15 during his career
  • Position: Shooting Guard
  • High School: Horace Mann High School, Gary, Indiana
  • College: Drake University
  • NBA Draft: 1969, 1st Round, 12th pick overall by the Los Angeles Lakers
  • Teams Played For: Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers
  • Championship Rings: 0
  • Kids: Not publicly documented
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented

Player Archetype / Play Style

Willie McCarter’s player archetype was that of a scoring guard, a lean perimeter shot-maker who could also handle the ball and keep an offense moving. At 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, he had a wiry frame and enough length to play on the wing or in the backcourt, and Drake’s own remembrance of him described him as “lean and long” with a smooth jumper, the ability to drive the ball, and a reliable fadeaway. Defensively, he projected more as a competitive backcourt defender than a true stopper, while offensively his main value came from perimeter scoring, secondary playmaking, and giving lineups another guard who could create a shot. His overall play style looked like that of a skilled combo guard from his era: poised, jumper-heavy, capable of attacking off the bounce, and most effective when he was allowed to blend scoring punch with guard-level versatility. (The Draft Review)

Fun Facts

  • He led Drake University to the 1969 NCAA Final Four.

Sources:

Drake University Athletics — Drake University Mourns Loss of Former Men’s Basketball Star Willie McCarter
NBA.com — Willie McCarter | Guard | Los Angeles Lakers
The Draft Review — Willie McCarter