Javon Carter reacts, during a recent WVU basketball game. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Coaches in all sports actively search for players whose drive, determination and defense combine to make them exceptional athletes and rewarding to have around.

Few are the players any more who look toward a team’s success to be more important than their own stats, laurels and rewards.

The few left can drive themselves with the fuel of team importance. They’ll play defense and hustle through the fatigue caused by their striving. The team has more meaning than any individual glory or recognition.

West Virginia University basketball had such a player for four seasons when strong-willed guard Jevon Carter was the real force behind a disruptive defense that was marketed and presented to an adoring public as “Press Virginia.”

Carter had raw ability and stamina and a blue and gold mantle of grit that rubbed off on teammates. His hustle and determination led to overall success and often had fans standing and cheering when the Mountaineers chased down another opponent.

No matter the circumstance or opponent, those arriving at the Coliseum to watch the favorite Mountaineers knew Carter was going to be driven to do his best . . . and do it unselfishly.

Carter had the sturdy body of a 6-foot-1 athlete who weighed about 195 pounds as the ringleader of the “Press Virginia” defense. Fatigue never seemed to grip him. Winning did grip him.

As a four-year player, Carter served up gold-gilded stats — he scored over 1,500 points, had over 500 rebounds, over 500 assists and over 300 steals in his much-decorated career from 2014-2018.

After his junior year, he tested the NBA’s interest in him, but did not hire an agent so he could return to Morgantown for a fourth season if that looked like the best road to professional basketball.

He impressed the nation so much that he was given the NABC Defensive Player of the Year Award and named a member of the All Big 12 first team. The Associated Press named him a second-team All-American.

The Memphis Grizzlies selected Carter in the second round of the 2018 league draft.

He stayed with the Grizzlies through the 2018-2019 season before being traded to the Phoenix Suns for the 2019-2020 season. Now, Carter is with the contending Brooklyn Nets after an off-season trade from Phoenix.

Brooklyn has guards Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving along with Patty Mills (13.4 points a game) playing ahead of Carter.

Brooklyn had a 27-15 record in games through Jan. 17 and was only a half-game behind first-place Chicago in the Eastern Division standings.

Carter had appeared in 34 games, scoring 2.8 points a game for coach Steve Nash’s team.

What is Carter’s most valuable skill as a professional player? His unselfishness and willingness to do what he can to help the Nets win.

His character and athleticism were helpful to WVU in equal amounts. He soon learned that the Mountaineers were not going to be successful without both his main attributes.

And successful and entertaining they were with Carter at the forefront of the teams he led.