Growing up, most athletes have dreams of getting to play professionally in their sport of choice. Most, however, never to get to live out that dream.

    For every one player that turns professional, hundreds are never given the opportunity to continue their athletic careers.

    Recent San Jose State and 2006 Highland High School graduate Wil Carter has earned his chance to play professionally as he has signed a one-year contract to play basketball with Eiffel Towers Den Bausch in Holland.

    “It was a dream for me even before I played at Highland,” Carter said. “I used to tell my dad all the time that I was going to play pro ball and I have the chance to do it. This is a big opportunity for me.”

    It has been a long journey for Carter to get from Highland to Holland.

    After graduating in 2006, Carter played the 2007 season at Salt Lake Community College and in 2008 he served an LDS mission in Brazil.

    Upon returning, Carter returned to Salt Lake Community College for the 2010 season.

    In April of that same year, Carter signed a National Letter of Intent to play at San Jose State and played the next two years for the Spartans.

    As a senior Carter averaged 13.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

    While having solid individual numbers, Carter’s San Jose State team did not have a good 2011-12 season as it went 9-22.

    “That was of the hardest things to overcome,” Carter said of the way his team played last season. “My agent and I had to convince teams that I was not the player they thought I was, and we got it done.”

    Carter’s agent, Ben Pensack, is also the agent for former Pocatello High star Spencer Nelson, who last played in Spain.

    Pensack came highly recommended to Carter by the San Jose State coaching staff and Nelson, who is one of Carter’s closest friends.

    “Four days after the season ended we sat down and had lunch,” Carter said. “After the meeting I talked to Spencer, who is someone I trust about Ben. Once he told me about him I signed and we have been working to get film out to everyone we could.”

    It also helped that Pensack had a good relationship with the Eiffel Towers team.

    “I worked out in Las Vegas for the team and had a good conversation with the coaches,” Carter said. “The team won the 2012 championship so it is a big deal that they wanted me to join them.”

    Carter added that serving his LDS mission allowed him to grow up a lot and become more mature than most players of his age. He plans on using the year in Holland to gain experience and improve basketball wise. When he is all done he hopes to have another opportunity to continue his career.

    “This is an opportunity that I hoped would come,” Carter said.

    Carter and his wife Kim leave for Holland on Aug. 16 with training camp beginning on Aug. 20.

    “My wife is very excited to go to Holland,” Carter said. “We are looking forward to going to a country where a lot of people speak English and to get a chance to explore and learn the country.”

    The Eiffel Towers team Carter is joining went 21-7 in the Eredivisie, or the Dutch Basketball League.