DeMarre Carroll, PF

When Mike Anderson was hired as head coach by the Tigers in March 2006, the university was enthralled by his high-pressure defense and run-and-gun offense -- called "The Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball" during his four seasons at Alabama-Birmingham.

Anderson felt that in order for the team to return to prominence, he needed a "Junkyard Dog" to make execution of his game plan more likely.

Anderson found a family member, aptly nicknamed the "Junkyard Dog," because of his toughness and relentless play, to join him in Columbia. Already established as an emerging talent during his sophomore year at Vanderbilt, DeMarre Carroll was more than willing to join his uncle in remaking the Missouri basketball team. Carroll's cousin, T.J. Cleveland, also accepted a position as assistant coach.

"DeMarre felt that to accomplish his goals in basketball it is in his best interest to transfer at this time," Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings said one month after Anderson took over the Missouri program. "Given the makeup of our roster, he feels that significant playing time on the perimeter is not likely. We certainly wish DeMarre all the best."

At John Carroll Catholic High School, Carroll teamed with Alabama point guard Ronald Steele to lead the Cavaliers to back-to-back Alabama Class 6A state titles. He earned first-team all-state, all-area, all-region, all-district and all-metro recognition as a junior and senior and helped JCCHS to a combined 67-3 mark his final two seasons, culminating in those consecutive state crowns.

Carroll averaged 17.8 points and 9.1 rebounds as a junior for John Carroll's undefeated 36-0 state championship squad, before recording norms of 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds as a senior for the team's 31-3 championship season. He capped his prep career by scoring a game-high 27 points in the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and was named MVP of the 2004 Alabama Class 6A State Tournament.

In 2004-05, Caroll enrolled at Vanderbilt, where he played in 34 games as a reserve and averaged 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, making 50 percent of his field goal attempts (56 of 112), but struggled at the foul line, shooting a miniscule 42.9 percent.

As a sophomore, he was part of the eight-man rotation, appearing in 30 games for the Commodores. He more than doubled his scoring output (10.8 per game), shooting 51.1 percent from the floor and 60.5 percent from the charity stripe. He shows off his ball-handling skills with averages of 1.2 steals and 2.0 assists per game, as he also totaled 191 rebounds (6.4 rpg).

Having been granted his release from Vanderbilt, Carroll sat out the 2006-07 season at Missouri under NCAA transfer rules. He suited up for all 32 games in 2007-08 for the Tigers, but was hobbled throughout the 16-16 schedule with a nagging ankle injury. He still managed to record 417 points (13.0 per game) while snatching 213 rebounds (6.7 per game) in 809 minutes of action.

Looking to make up for what Carroll felt was a "lost season," he underwent a grueling offseason conditioning program prior to the 2008-09 campaign. He excelled on the basketball court and in the classroom, earning All-Big Twelve Conference and Academic All-Big Twelve honors as a senior. He set the school season-record by starting 38 games, as his 246 field goals made tied for seventh on the Tigers' annual record chart.

His 629 total points scored (16.6 per game), was the 10th-best season total by a Missouri player. Carroll also ranks 10th on the annual record chart with 59 steals, as he handed out a career-high 82 assists, blocked 25 shots and averaged 7.2 rebounds per game, leading the Tigers to a 31-7 season.

Carroll reached 1,000 career points faster than any Mizzou player and finished his Missouri career 35th all-time with 1,046 points (14.9 per game). He made 408 of 743 field goals (54.9 percent), 19 of 61 3-pointers (31.1 percent) and 211 of 337 free throws (62.65). He collected 486 rebounds (6.9 rpg), 124 assists (1.8 apg), 95 steals (1.4 spg) and blocked 46 shots (0.7 bpg) in 70 games for the Tigers. He also had 104 turnovers, 169 personal fouls and nine game disqualifications in 1,873 minutes of action (26.8 mpg).

Positives: Strong, physical player who is still trying to become comfortable with his move to small forward, but despite his strength and athleticism, he lacks the bulk to combat power forwards at the NBA level … Plays with a consistent motor … He might lack explosive speed but shows good stamina and a physical presence on the defensive end … Above-average offensive rebounder who knows his limitations as an outside shooter and uses the offensive glass to score most of his points on put-backs and dunks … Uses his long wingspan -- 6 feet, 10 inches -- effectively when trying to alter shots and make steals in the passing lane (59 steals in 2008-09 rank tenth on the school season-record list) … Lacks the size to play at the four-forward spot, but shows good elevation and timing attacking the glass … Times his leaps well, dominating the boards and has shown improvement as a shot blocker … Runs the floor well and his 124 assists in 70 games at Missouri (210 total for his career) indicate he is effective feeding teammates instead of forcing his own shot … Creates separation, timing leaps well to get maximum elevation when firing off his jump shot … Has worked hard to eliminate a hitch in his set shot and follows through when shooting (made 246 baskets last year, seventh-best in school history) … Demonstrates quick wrist action on catch-and-shoot situations and is an efficient flyer around the rim, doing a nice job of getting around the defender for put-backs off the offensive boards … Has improved as a weak-side defender and also improved blocking shots as a help-side defender … Lacks ideal quickness but can cover ground vs. bigger forwards and uses his frame to stay in front of his man and be an efficient pressure defender … Looks best playing a face-up, one-on-one game … Can put the ball on the floor before finishing, showing a strong drive to the basket … When bigger forwards get a bit lethargic and fail to put their body on him, he gets to the offensive boards easily … Plays with good energy and has developed into a finisher around the rim … Generates a very good lift when going for the rebound or blocked shot … Uses his frame to draw contact and has a strong charge to the basket.

Negatives: Plays like a power forward and has yet to embrace the fact that he is much better off playing the wing … Has made improvement with his perimeter game, but must set his feet better before elevating and he rushes his release, causing him to have accuracy issues (28.1 percent 3-point shooter) … Might need to have further medical evaluation for ongoing ankle issues that originated in summer 2007 … Has decent leaping ability, but is not explosive trying to elevate (has some hesitation) … Has adequate passing skills, but gets into trouble, resulting in most of his turnovers, when he tries to take the ball through traffic … His shooting stroke is inconsistent and he will get a bit methodical setting up for a jumper and suddenly rushing his shot when he sees the defense collapsing on him from the perimeter … Lacks the range to be counted on as a 3-point shooter … Has become too reliant on his right-handed shot … Better in catch-and-shoot situations and doesn't create his own shot off the dribble.

Compares To: RENALDO BALKMAN, Denver -- Carroll is a scrappy, aggressive role player stuck between the three- and four-forward positions. He quietly made a successful move out to the wing from power forward, averaging 16.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game last season, but he has yet to discover his perimeter game and while he has decent quickness, he might not have the lateral range to stay with NBA small forwards. Has to speed up his release on his jumper and his shooting motion is a bit methodical. For a team looking for a rotation player off the bench, he could be a nice fit with unselfishness as a passer, especially in the passing lane.

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

Earned All-Big Twelve Conference and Academic All-Big Twelve first-team honors … Was named the Big Twelve Tournament Most Outstanding Player and was selected to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off All-Tournament Team … Nicknamed the Junkyard Dog because of his toughness and relentless play, Carroll scored 629 points (16.6 per game), the 10th-best season total in school history, as he played in a Tiger season-record 38 games and tied another school mark with 37 starting assignments … Shot 55.8 percent from the floor, as his 248 field goals made (441 attempts) tied for seventh on the Missouri season-record list … Hit on 16 of 44 3-pointers (36.4 percent) and shot 63.4 percent from the foul line (121 of 191) … Paced the Tigers with a career-high 273 rebounds (7.2 per game), as the undersized post performer made up for his lack of size with quickness and toughness … Handed out 82 assists (2.2 per game) to go with 59 steals (1.6 per game), the 10th-best season total in school history … Also blocked 25 shots, as he was charged with 56 turnovers, 84 personal fouls and one disqualification … Scored in double figures 35 times, tallying at least 20 points in nine contests … Produced six double-double performances … Named to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off All-Tournament team after averaging 20.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals in three games vs. Xavier, Fairfield and Southern California.

All-Big Twelve Conference honorable mention and named the league's Newcomer of the Year … Selected the team's Most Valuable Player by Columbia Regional of the CBE Classic … Added National Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association All-American Accolades … Played in 32 games, despite performing most of the year with a nagging ankle sprain … Scored 417 points (13.0 per game) as he made 162 of 302 field goals (53.6 percent, fourth-best in the Big Twelve) and 90 of 146 free throws (61.6 percent) while shooting 17.6 percent from three-point range (3 of 17) … Led the Tigers with 213 rebounds (6.7 per game), the ninth-best total in the Big Twelve … Credited with 42 assists (1.3 per game), 48 turnovers, 21 blocked shots and led the team while ranking second in the league with 36 steals (1.1 spg) … Reached double figures in scoring a team-leading 22 times, including four 20-point efforts … Tied for the team lead and finished seventh in the Big Twelve with four double-double performances.

Redshirted after transferring from Vanderbilt last summer … Provided great looks for Tiger post players in practice and was a lead-by-example type of performer throughout his first season at Mizzou.

Carroll started half of the 30 games he appeared in at Vanderbilt … Averaged 10.8 points (325 total) and a team-best 6.4 rebounds (191) per game … Also led the Commodores with 37 steals (1.2 per game) … Added 61 assists (2.0 per game) to go with 11 blocked shots and 54 turnovers … Ranked second on the team with a 51.1 field goal percentage (135 of 264), as he hit on just 3 of 17 3-pointers and shot 60.5 percent from the foul line (52 of 86) … Tied for the team lead with four double-double performances and led the squad in rebounding 10 times as a sophomore … Also paced the team in scoring five times and reached double figures in points in 11 of 16 Southeastern Conference games.

Played in all 34 games as a key frontcourt reserve at Vanderbilt, scoring 135 points (4.0 per game) on 56 of 112 field goals (50.0 percent) and 18 of 42 free throws (42.9 percent) … Averaged 15.6 minutes per game, finishing third on the squad with 129 rebounds (3.8 per game) … Added 25 assists, 20 steals, two blocked shots and 19 turnovers.

In 134 college games (64 at Vanderbilt, 70 at Missouri), Carroll scored 1,506 points (11.2 points per game), hitting on 53.5 percent of his field goals (599 of 1,119), 27 of 96 3-point attempts (28.1 percent) and 281 of 465 free throws (60.4 percent) in 3,277 minutes of action (24.5 per game) … Averaged 6.0 rebounds (806), 1.6 assists (210), 1.1 steals (152) and 0.4 blocked shots (59) per game … His field goal percentage of 54.9 percent at Missouri (408 of 743) rank fifth in school history behind Jeff Warren (1990-93; .614), Ricky Frazier (1980-82; .594), Gary Leonard (1986-89; .560) and Curtis Berry (1978-81; .556) … Made 246 field goals in 2008-09, tying Steve Stipanovich (1982-83) for seventh on the Missouri season-record list … Scored 629 points during the 2008-09 campaign, ranking 10th on the school season-record list … Played in a Tigers season-record 38 games in 2008-09, as his 37 starting assignments tied another school annual mark that was first set by Gary Leonard (1988-89).

2007: On July 5, Carroll was a victim of a gunshot wound in the ankle in an early morning incident downtown Columbia, Missouri after a disturbance outside a night club. He was treated and released shortly after the incident from a Columbia hospital.

2007-08: Suffered a left ankle sprain vs. California (12/01) and played the rest of the season with the injury.

2009 NCAA Tournament: Carroll had to be helped off the court during practice at the University of Phoenix Stadium (3/25) with a left ankle sprain, as the team was in preparation for the upcoming NCAA Tournament clash vs. Memphis (3/26), but Carroll taped up the ankle, going out and scoring 17 points with six rebounds, six assists and two steals in 29 minutes vs. the Tigers.

Attended John Carroll (Birmingham, Ala.) Catholic High School, where he teamed with Alabama point guard Ronald Steele to lead the Cavaliers to back-to-back Alabama Class 6A state titles … Earned first-team All-State, All-Area, All-Region, All-District and All-Metro recognition as a junior and senior and helped JCCHS to a combined 67-3 mark his final two seasons, culminating in those consecutive state crowns … Averaged 17.8 points and 9.1 rebounds as a junior for John Carroll's undefeated 36-0 state championship squad, before recording norms of 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds as a senior en route to the team's 31-3 championship season … Capped his prep career by scoring a game-high 27 points in the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and was named MVP of the 2004 Alabama Class 6A State Tournament.

Graduated with academic honors with a degree in Human and Organizational Development … Attends the same Birmingham church as Ruben Studdard of "American Idol" fame … Missouri head coach Mike Anderson is his uncle and assistant coach T.J. Cleveland is his cousin … Born 7/27/86 … Resides in Birmingham, Alabama.