Brother's state tournament experience helps Jahvin Carter lead Alcoa to TSSAA championship game

MURFREESBORO – After Alcoa basketball’s sectional win over Tyner Academy, star junior Jahvin Carter received advice before his first venture into the TSSAA state tournament. 

The wisdom was delivered by his assistant coach and older brother Mekhi Carter, who played his senior year for the Tornadoes in 2018, the last time the program reached the state tournament. 

“He felt that when they came down here, they were just happy to be here,” Jahvin Carter said. “His biggest thing is just enjoy the experience, have fun and … don't just be down here to be happy you’re here. If you’re down here (try) to get the whole thing.”

Jahvin and his Alcoa teammates have absorbed those words and are a win away from bringing the Tornadoes their first gold ball since 1967. 

Alcoa defeated Brainerd 71-68 on Friday in the Class 2A semifinals of the TSSAA BlueCross Boys Basketball State Championships at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center. Alcoa (29-8) hasn’t reached the state championship game since 1992.

The Tornadoes will face Frederick Douglass (28-8) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Jahvin finished with a game-high 32 points, five rebounds and three assists for Alcoa. Junior Brandon Winton Jr. had 14 points and three rebounds. Dennis Lewis Jr. led Brainerd (23-9) with 25 points and four rebounds. 

Mekhi, 22, became an assistant coach at Alcoa after helping train the current players last summer. During this time, he noticed a leap in his younger brother’s game when he played impressively at the Nike EYBL circuit for his AAU team.   

Mekhi said that one thing that has helped his brother's development as a player has been facing older competition all of his life. Mekhi, who is six years older, has played against his brother countless times. 

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“The competition is kind of easy for him at this point,” Mekhi said. 

While Mekhi gave valuable guidance before the state tournament, Jahvin said his brother mentored him throughout the season. However, Mekhi said that he doesn't want his instruction to be overbearing.

“The majority of the stuff he does on the court he really does it himself but sometimes he’ll look over (to me) and I’ll just throw a little tip here and there," Mekhi said. "Whenever he seeks advice from me then I’ll give him some.”

Jahvin said he’s appreciative of this opportunity with his older brother.  

“Even though he's not playing, it feel like he playing like he just everywhere I go and (it's) just a great experience,” Jahvin said.

Mekhi is equally as grateful to be on this journey with Jahvin. 

“I don’t really know what to say, it’s hard to explain,” Mekhi said. “This one of his goals this year is to get here and to make it this far. And he’s playing the way he’s playing it’s the cherry on top … now we trying to win it, that’s really what’s on his mind.”