Paul Carter is originally from California and moved to New Orleans as a junior. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the area, he was forced to relocate to Little Rock, Ark., where he graduated from Little Rock Mills. Carter redshirted his freshman year at Connors State (Okla.) CC before transferring to Missouri State University – West Plains. Before his first year of collegiate basketball even began, Carter entered the radar of Gophers coach Tubby Smith after a strong performance at the Jerry Mullen Camp in Tulsa. In the season opener against Labette CC, Carter scored a season-high 28 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and added four blocked shots and two assists. Much like he began the season, Carter ended the regular season on a high note, recording 21 points and seven rebounds in a 92-84 win over Moberly Area CC. Carter’s season ended with a 10-point, 10-rebound performance in a 80-61 loss to Three Rivers CC in the Region 16 Championship. The Grizzlies finished with a 27-5 mark.

The Barnyard Quiz
1) Why did you choose the Gophers?

It is a great school and a great environment

2) What are you most looking forward to as a Gopher?

Big Ten competition

3) How do you get ready before a game?

Pray and clown around with my teammatess

4) What’s a little known fact about you?

One of my favorite snacks is french fries & salsa

5) Who is your favorite former Gopher?

Bobby Jackson — I love his work ethic!

6) The Gophers are down 1 with :05 left & Coach Smith is locked in the bathroom - what play do you run?

“Get the ball to Carter!”

7) After winning the 2009 NCAA’s what song do you dance to at the welcome home celebration?

Tye Tribbett — Victory

8)When your career as a Gopher is over, what would you like to be remembered for?

Being a true man of God and one of the greatest players to set foot in The Barn

Barnyard: Who is your favorite Gopher?

CF: D.J.

Barnyard: How do you get so pumped up before every game?

CF: Watching highlight tapes of the Final Four team

Barnyard: What is a random fact about you?

CF: I can do the “Shwanky” Adrian Peterson walk

Barnyard: What are you most looking forward to this season?

CF: Bo Ryan’s face when we beat the Badgers

Colton Iverson hails from Yankton, S.D. (pop, 13.528) in the southeastern part of the state. Its claims to fame include being the birthplace of Indianapolis Colts place kicker Adam Vinatieri and the home of NBC News’ Tom Brokaw while attending Yankton High School in the 1950s. Not known as a basketball school, Iverson helped change that over the past few seasons. This past March, Iverson led Yankton to the State AA Boys Basketball Tournament and delivered a dominating performance. Iverson contributed 36 points and 15 rebounds, but it was not enough as the team fell to Mitchell 61-59 in the first round as Iverson made 16 of 22 shots from the field. In consolation play, Yankton rolled through the semifinals, and then finished off Sioux Falls Roosevelt in the fifth place game with Iverson’s 27 points and 20 rebounds. Iverson was named to the all-tournament team after finishing with 77 points and 51 rebounds in the tournament.

The Barnyard Quiz
1) Why did you choose the Gophers?

Because of Coach Smith and the great coaching staff

2) What are you most looking forward to as a Gopher?

Winning the Big Ten Tournament

3) How do you get ready before a game?

Listen to some music, then relax until warm ups

4) What’s a little known fact about you?

I am a guitar hero champion

5) Who is your favorite former Gopher?

Lou Hudson - he’s a warrior

6) The Gophers are down 1 with :05 left & Coach Smith is locked in the bathroom - what play do you run?

Iso for Blake Hoffarber

7) After winning the 2009 NCAA’s what song do you dance to at the welcome home celebration?

Birdman - I Run This

8)When your career as a Gopher is over, what would you like to be remembered for?

Ask me again in four years

Barnyard: Who is your favorite Gopher?

AM: Ralph

Barnyard: How do you get so pumped up before every game?

AM: Listen to “Heart of a Champion” by Nelly

Barnyard: What is a random fact about you?

AM: I played against Blake Hoffarber in high school

Barnyard: What will be the final score of the Michigan St. game?

AM: 82 to 76 — Gophers!

Kevin Payton began his high school basketball career in Austria, where his father Charles played professional basketball, until Kevin transferred to Camden High School (New Jersey) to live with his aunt and compete athletically for his junior and senior seasons. His senior season, Payton led Camden to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Group 3 state boys’ basketball championship game. The season wasn’t easy however, as Payton missed seven games with a dislocated shoulder. He averaged 26 points on the season, highlighted by a 51-point performance against Camden County Tech in a 120-55 win in February, 2005. In the championship game, Payton was hampered by a stomach flu, and was limited to just eight points in a 76-58 loss. After basketball, Payton led his team to a state track championship in the spring. He won the 400-meter championship, placed second in the 200-meters, and was on the second-place 4×400 relay team.

The Barnyard Quiz
1) Why did you choose the Gophers?

It’s a great university, both academically and athletically

2) What’s your biggest thrill as a Gopher?

Playing at home in front of our great fans

3) How do you get ready before a game?

Shoot around, then just listen to music and relax

4) What’s a little known fact about you?

I’ve traveled to over a dozen countries

5) Who is your favorite former Gopher?

All — each left a great legacy for us to continue

6) The Gophers are down 1 with :05 left & Coach Smith is locked in the bathroom - what play do you run?

Any play that gets us the win

7) After winning the 2009 NCAA’s what song do you dance to at the welcome home celebration?

T.I. - Swagger Like Us

8)When your career as a Gopher is over, what would you like to be remembered for?

Someone who never quit and always put the team first

Barnyard: Who is your favorite Gopher?

JL: Paul Carter

Barnyard: How do you get so pumped up before every game?

JL: I paint my friends’ faces and listen to Space Jam music

Barnyard: What is a random fact about you?

JL: I normally work event staff for men’s basketball games

Barnyard: What do you want for Christmas?

JL: I want the Gophers to go the the Sweet Sixteen - at least!

In his final high school game last March, Devoe Joseph and his Pickering squad were playing for Pickering’s second straight Quad-A provincial championship game. With a 62-2 record entering the game, andtrailing with just seconds remaining, Joseph and his teammates were in unfamiliar territory – they were losing. Joseph wouldn’t let it last long. His fade away 20-footer with 3.1 seconds left lifted Pickering to a 47-46 win over Eastern Commerce, and put an exclamation point on a stellar high school career. He averaged 24 ppg, 6 rpg, and 5 apg during his senior season. The three-time Canadian High School Player of the Year was also a three-time Toronto Star high school all-star. At the national level, Joseph was a two-time member of the Canadian World Junior Team, where he was leading scorer both years. He was also a final cut for the Canadian Men’s National Team this summer that competed for the 2008 Olympics.

The Barnyard Quiz
1) Why did you choose the Gophers?

It’s a good program and I felt comfortable with the coaching staff and team

2) What’s your biggest thrill as a Gopher?

My first game in The Barn

3) How do you get ready before a game?

Just playing ball

4) What’s a little known fact about you?

I am an outgoing person

5) Who is your favorite former Gopher?

Bobby Jackson because of his high level of energy

6) The Gophers are down 1 with :05 left & Coach Smith is locked in the bathroom - what play do you run?

A play to get a layup, or a drive to the rim and a kick out for an open jumper

7) After winning the 2009 NCAA’s what song do you dance to at the welcome home celebration?

T.I. - Swagger Like Us

8)When your career as a Gopher is over, what would you like to be remembered for?

Being a part of an NCAA Championship