The Arizona Basketball Player With A Real-Life Superpower

Arizona basketball is finally back. After a few years of struggling, the Wildcats are back to the Sweet Sixteen, the third round of the NCAA's March Madness Postseason Tournament.

On their roster is a young man named Carter Bryant, who refused to let anything get in the way of his dreams to become an Wildcat legend.

Growing Up... Different

Carter Bryant grew up very different from the rest of us. He is what's considered a GODA, or Grandchild of Deaf Adults. His Grandfather, Mike "Doc" Torres was a legend in his own right, and a Hall of Fame member of the USA Deaf Basketball association. His grandmother, Shelly Freed, an educator and administrator at the California School for the Deaf.

His parents implanted a sense of understanding at a young age, with his mother being a sign language interpreter and his father coaching the women's team at the California School for the Deaf in Riverside.

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Achieving Dreams, No Matter How Hard

When he was a child, Bryant spent much of his time around the U of A, commuting from his family's home in Riverside to Tucson to watch his aunt play for the Wildcats volleyball team.. From that moment, he knew he wanted to be a Wildcat.

His path wasn't easy. When Wildcat coaches Tommy Lloyd and Jack Murphy attended a practice of his Sophomore year of High School, Bryant had what he considers the worst practice of his career. He didn't let that define him, though, because by the next year, he'd verbally committed to Arizona, and on November 4th, 2024, he played his first game in the Red and Blue, and has been a vital part of the team many hope can come home with the school's first national championship since 1997.

[Arizona Alumni]