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Campus Newcomer: Cherokee Trail LHP Carter Wilcox

On3 imageby: Kyle Huesmann07/25/25HuesmannKyle
HawkeyeReport caught up with incoming freshman Carter Wilcox.
HawkeyeReport caught up with incoming freshman Carter Wilcox.

We kick off our Iowa Baseball Campus Newcomer series with an incoming freshman who sky-rocketed his stock over the course of his high school career. Cherokee Trail left-handed pitcher Carter Wilcox was the ace pitcher for the Cougars and now will turn his focus to his upcoming freshman year at Iowa. He is rated as the #1 player in Colorado and the #24 LHP in the country by Perfect Game.

After posting a 3.75 ERA as a sophomore and a 3.82 ERA as a junior, Wilcox had a breakout season as a senior. He won the Centennial League Pitcher of the Year award, while he was also a Colorado First Team All-State selection. Carter made 12 starts, finishing with a 1.85 ERA over 56.2 innings, including an incredible 116 strikeouts to 35 walks. Opponents managed just 0.46 hits per inning against him, with just two of his 26 hits allowed going for extra bases.

When Wilcox committed to Iowa back in 2023, he was rated as the #119 left-handed pitcher in the country but has since jumped nearly 100 spots into the top 25. That meant some stressful times for the Iowa coaching staff watching the MLB Draft, but Carter will pitch for the Hawkeyes.

We caught up with the 6-foot-1, 165-pound left-hander from the Centennial State to preview his freshman year with the Hawkeyes.

Q: When do you move to Iowa City and what is your excitement level like for that move in day?

WILCOX: I’m excited to get out and move into Iowa City on August 17th. I’m blessed with the opportunity to continue my athletic and academic career and couldn’t be more excited to get out and get started. Also, it’ll be cool to meet new people and teammates. It’ll be a huge weight off my shoulders to just get settled in.

Q: What number do you plan to wear and why?

WILCOX: I chose number 12 because that was my mom’s number for most of her sports growing up. My mom has been a huge factor in getting me to where I am as a person and as a player. She has always supported me every step of the way and I couldn’t be more grateful for everything she’s done for me and my family. I also think it represents my dad in a way because 1 and 2 make 3 which was his number as well. Both my parents are my biggest blessings in my life. They’re my foundation for everything. I also had to have a 2 in there because 2s have been my favorite numbers since I was young.

Q: You were named Centennial League Pitcher of the Year and were a Colorado First Team All-State selection. What does it mean to you to receive those honors as a senior?

WILCOX: Before the year started, I wanted to leave my mark the best way I possibly could. Leave the school and program better than I found it. I made a list of goals for myself that I hung up in my room so I could look at them every day to keep me motivated. Being pitcher of the year and 1st team all-state happened to be a couple of the goals I had on there.

My whole high school career I strove for those awards. To get them my senior year after all the hard work and growth it took to earn them was such a special feeling. I wanted to leave an example that people can look up to. I couldn’t be more grateful to represent my school in those ways. It helped me to walk away knowing I gave it my all for my school and teammates. It’s an even better feeling getting recognized like that.

Q: I know there were some discussions about you potentially being selected in the recent MLB Draft. What was it like going through that process, receiving some interest from teams and what did you learn from all of that?

WILCOX: It was honestly stressful towards the end. I didn’t really know what God had in store for me. I tried my best to continue to just trust his plan. It had been and unbelievable experience getting attention from major league teams. As a kid playing baseball that’s the dream. I was very blessed to live out that kids dream a little bit. My grandma and mom always kept reminding me to just enjoy it regardless of what happens. The experience taught me to just enjoy the moments and appreciate all the blessings God has given me through baseball no matter the outcome. That’s something I will take with me the rest of my career.

Q: What pitches do you have in your arsenal (speeds)? What do you consider your best pitch and why?

WILCOX: I throw a 4-seam fastball 91-95, Slider 75-77, Curveball 72-75, and a Changeup 80-82. I would say my best pitch is my slider. I’m naturally able to spin it really well and get good movement on it. It’s a pitch that I’m comfortable throwing in any count. Sometimes I throw it multiple times in a row depending on the situation. It also just plays really well off my fastball and with my unique arm slot.

Q: Looking back at your recruitment, what stood out about the Iowa Baseball program that made them an easy choice over other schools?

WILCOX: I really just connected with the coaching staff really well right off the bat. I felt like they weren’t just interested in me as a player but me as a human being. On top of that they run an outstanding program full of good players. They’ve been able to develop guys and have had a lot of guys drafted. Especially in recent years. As a pitcher it’s been cool to follow the arms that got selected in the draft these past couple years. They also have had a lot of success under their amazing coaching staff. On top of all that I fell in love with Iowa City the moment I stepped on campus. It really was full of good people and the facilities and campus itself was awesome.

7. Were there any other schools that you heavily considered during your recruitment?

WILCOX: I considered schools like Arizona and Arizona State initially but as soon as I came in contact with Iowa my head never really turned. Like I said before once I got out to campus I fell in love with the program. There wasn’t anywhere else I wanted to be more.

8. What is your relationship like with the coaching staff? Who do you talk with the most?

WILCOX: I think with a lot of the coaches it’s pretty equally distributed. My relationship with Sean McGrath, the former pitching coach, was really tight. He played a big role in me committing to Iowa, but Coach Sutherland and Coach Heller also played big roles. My relationship with them has been just as tight. I feel like there always available when I need them and they want what’s best for me always. It’s a really cool feeling having their support and interest in me. The relationships with the coaches have been everything to me.

Q: After you committed there was a change at pitching coach. What about your conversations with Coach Sean Kenny kept you locked into your commitment to Iowa?

WILCOX: For a while it was hard to say goodbye to the relationship I had with the former pitching coach. On top of that I was getting some ACC and SEC attention at the time. I had a lot of people telling me different things. Thankfully Coach Sutherland was really helpful in keeping me at Iowa and I’m thankful for that. Meeting Coach Kenny for the first time was really cool. I didn’t know if it would the same relationship wise but just like with all the other coaches I connected with him right off the bat. I liked everything he brought to the table and saw a big opportunity to help me grow as a pitcher.

Q: What have you been doing since the end of your high school season to prepare for you arrival on campus this fall?

WILCOX: I spent some time playing in the MLB Draft League which exposed me to a college like atmosphere. Being one of few high schoolers on my team and in the league helped me to compete at a higher level. It also prepared me for life away from home and traveling state to state to play ball. I learned a lot from my teammates about their experiences with college baseball. Competing against those guys really just helped prepare me for college baseball. Now that I’m back home for a little while I’ve started to do more strength training while also making sure my body stays loose and ready for the fall.

Q: If someone asked you ““what do you bring to the Iowa Baseball team?” How would you describe your game?

WILCOX: I’d say I bring a motivated, hardworking, and contagious energy that everyone can feed off of. Despite all the individual goals I have for myself, the team goals are the most important to me. I love to win and hate to lose. I’m willing to accept any role to help the team win ball games. I want to not only win the Big Ten championship but make a run for Omaha as well. When I’m on the mound a bring a fire and swagger to me and I pitch to win. I have a killer instinct that I bring out to the mound as well. Outside of that I love to see my guys succeed and will always support my teammates through thick and thin.

Q: What is your relationship like with the other incoming freshman? Current players?

WILCOX: I think there is still a lot of get to knowing to do but I feel like I am familiar with a lot of the incoming freshman. We got to go to a football game together and take pictures in the uniforms together this last fall. Along with that we met a couple of current players as well. I would say I have the best relationship with my roommate. Me and him have been in contact pretty much since me and him were at one of the Iowa baseball camps together.

Q: What are your goals for your freshman season at Iowa? What areas of your game do you want to improve?

WILCOX: Ultimately, I just want to be able to grow as a pitcher and as a person. I want to achieve better feel for all of my pitches and find more consistency with all of them. I also want to control the run game better. On top of that I want to be the best teammate I possibly can. It’s also a major goal of mine to get opportunities to play early. Whether that’s being a starter or coming out of the bullpen. I feel that’s the best way I can learn and grow as a player. I also want to get bigger faster and stronger, which all helps me to be as good as I possibly can be.

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