Dj Carton Bio
Desi Justice Carton, known professionally as D. J. Carton, is an American professional basketball player for the Birmingham Squadron of the NBA G League. He previously played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Marquette Golden Eagles before beginning his professional career in 2021.
A point guard listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 200 pounds, Carton has built his career as a scoring and playmaking guard in the G League after going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft. He has spent time with multiple G League affiliates, working to establish himself as a reliable lead guard at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Desi Justice Carton was born on August 5, 2000, in Pineville, North Carolina. He was born Desi Junior Wilson to his mother Jennifer and his father Desi Wilson. His family moved several times during his childhood before settling in Geneseo, Illinois, where he attended St. Malachy Catholic School and Geneseo Middle School. At a young age, Carton showed promise as a multi-sport athlete, excelling in baseball and reportedly throwing 75 miles per hour by the seventh grade, while also playing running back on the football team.
A rotator cuff injury forced Carton to give up football and focus on basketball. After eighth grade, he moved to Bettendorf, Iowa, and enrolled at Bettendorf High School. He became a starter on the basketball team as a sophomore and quickly developed into one of the top players in the state. His mother Jennifer played volleyball at the University of Colorado, his father Desi Wilson played basketball and baseball at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and his maternal grandfather Gene Meeker played basketball at the University of Iowa during the 1950s, giving Carton a deep athletic family background.
Path to Basketball
Carton blossomed at Bettendorf High School, where he became one of the most productive scorers in school history. As a junior, he was a first-team all-state selection and averaged a school-record 26.3 points per game, along with 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. During his senior season, he scored 49 points against Davenport West High School and led the Bulldogs to a 21–2 record and the top of the Class 4A state rankings, before they were eliminated in the state Sweet 16.
Carton finished his high school career as Bettendorf’s all-time leading scorer with 1,198 points, and he ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in rebounds with 372 and assists with 257. In 2019, he was named Co-Iowa Mr. Basketball alongside Jake Hilmer. Ranked the 34th best player in his class and a four-star recruit, he committed to Ohio State on July 14, 2018, choosing the Buckeyes over offers from Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Marquette, and Xavier. In AAU play, he competed for the Iowa Barnstormers before joining the Quad City Elite.
Dj Carton Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Carton began his college career at Ohio State, where he was named the Big Ten preseason freshman of the year. Florida State transfer C. J. Walker started ahead of him at point guard to begin the season, limiting his early role. Carton scored a season-high 19 points on December 15, 2019, in an 84–71 loss to Minnesota, and he added 17 points and three assists in a win over Northwestern on January 26, 2020. He averaged 10.4 points and 3.0 assists per game as a freshman, shooting 40 percent from three-point range.
On January 30, 2020, Carton took a leave of absence from the team, citing mental health issues. Following the season, he opted to transfer from Ohio State and on April 15, 2020, he committed to Marquette, where he was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA. At Marquette, Carton averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game before announcing that he would enter the 2021 NBA draft and hire an agent.
Greensboro Swarm Era (2021–2022)
After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Carton signed a contract with the Charlotte Hornets on August 7, 2021, but he was waived on October 8. On October 24, he signed with the Greensboro Swarm as an affiliate player, beginning his professional career in the NBA G League. He spent the 2021–22 season with the Swarm, developing his role as a lead guard and adjusting to the professional game.
Iowa Wolves Era (2022–2024)
On November 2, 2022, Carton was named to the opening night roster for the Iowa Wolves, where he became a featured player over the next two seasons. He signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 19, 2023, but was waived the following day, and he returned to the Iowa Wolves on October 29. His time in Iowa marked his longest tenure with a single G League organization and helped him grow into a more consistent scorer and facilitator.
Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905 (2024)
On February 21, 2024, Carton signed a 10-day contract with the Toronto Raptors, and on March 2, he signed a two-way contract, giving him his first sustained NBA opportunity. He appeared in games for both the Raptors and their G League affiliate, Raptors 905, during the 2024 calendar year. On December 10, 2024, he was waived by the Raptors, returning him to the open market.
San Diego Clippers Era (2025)
On January 29, 2025, Carton joined the San Diego Clippers, the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers. In 19 games with the Clippers, he averaged 13.1 points and 4.9 assists per game, showing the scoring and playmaking ability that had marked his career. His strong production in San Diego helped set up his next opportunity in the league.
Birmingham Squadron Era (2025–Present)
On August 21, 2025, Carton was acquired by the Birmingham Squadron in a four-team trade, joining the New Orleans Pelicans’ G League affiliate. He continues to work toward a stable NBA role, building on his track record of production as a scoring point guard. The move to Birmingham marked his fifth G League organization in five professional seasons.
Driving Style and Strengths
Carton is best known as a scoring point guard with a reliable three-point shot and the ability to create offense for teammates. He showed a 40 percent mark from beyond the arc as a freshman at Ohio State and has consistently produced in the G League as both a scorer and a facilitator, with seasons of 13-plus points and roughly 4-to-5 assists per game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Carton’s career include being named Co-Iowa Mr. Basketball in 2019, finishing as Bettendorf’s all-time leading scorer with 1,198 points, and earning a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors in March 2024. He also hit a season-high 19 points against Minnesota during his freshman year at Ohio State and scored 49 points in a single high school game against Davenport West.
Dj Carton Career Wins
Carton has accumulated a range of achievements across high school, college, and the professional ranks, though formal career win totals in the G League are not fully documented in available sources. His most clearly verified honors include his Co-Iowa Mr. Basketball award in 2019 and his status as Bettendorf High School’s all-time leading scorer.
High School and College Highlights
At Bettendorf High School, Carton set a school record by averaging 26.3 points per game as a junior and finished his career with 1,198 points. He was named Co-Iowa Mr. Basketball in 2019, sharing the award with Jake Hilmer. At Ohio State, he earned Big Ten preseason freshman of the year honors, and at Marquette, he averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in his only season.
Other Performances
In the NBA G League, Carton produced a strong stretch with the San Diego Clippers in 2025, averaging 13.1 points and 4.9 assists per game across 19 appearances. He also earned a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors in 2024, marking a significant professional milestone. Specific win totals by team are not fully documented in available sources.
Dj Carton Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Carton comes from a deeply athletic family. His mother Jennifer played volleyball at the University of Colorado, and his father Desi Wilson played basketball and baseball at Fairleigh Dickinson University before being selected in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers and enjoying a short career with the San Francisco Giants. His maternal grandfather Gene Meeker played basketball at the University of Iowa during the 1950s.
Personal Life
Carton was born Desi Junior Wilson but later changed his name to Desi Justice Carton after his mother Jennifer married Dale Carton. He has not seen his father since the age of four. He took a leave of absence from the Ohio State basketball team in January 2020, citing mental health reasons, a decision he has spoken about publicly.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Carton, beginning with his time in the Toronto Raptors organization and continuing through multiple G League stops. He was waived by the Raptors in December 2024, and on January 29, 2025, he joined the San Diego Clippers, where he averaged 13.1 points and 4.9 assists per game in 19 games, demonstrating his value as a primary playmaker.
On August 21, 2025, Carton was acquired by the Birmingham Squadron in a four-team trade, giving him a fresh opportunity with the New Orleans Pelicans’ G League affiliate. The move places him in a new system and offers a clear path to compete for a potential NBA call-up. His production in San Diego positioned him as a guard to watch entering the 2025–26 G League season.
Looking ahead, Carton’s outlook in Birmingham depends on his ability to maintain his scoring efficiency and continue developing as a leader on the floor. With a track record of shooting the three at a high level and producing double-digit scoring averages across multiple organizations, he remains a candidate to earn another NBA opportunity. His experience across five G League teams has also given him a broad understanding of professional schemes and roles.