BIO: Jordan Caroline was born in Champaign, Illinois (USA).

Caroline played two years of high school basketball for Champaign Central High School before transferring to Montverde Academy. Playing alongside Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell, Caroline helped the team to back-to-back national titles in 2013 and 2014.

FAMILY: Caroline’s maternal grandfather was J. C. Caroline, who was a running back for Illinois and led the nation in rushing as a sophomore in 1953 before playing 10 seasons for the Chicago Bears, primarily as a defensive back. His father, Simeon Rice, was an All-American defensive end at Illinois in 1994 and 1995 and was picked third in the NFL draft and played 12 NFL seasons. His mother Jayna Caroline, was a track athlete in high school and graduated from Illinois.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Jordan Caroline made his NBL debut with the Melbourne United at 26 years of age. He scored nine points in his first game.

Jordan Caroline joined Melbourne United for the 2022/23 NBL season as part of a revamped roster, following the team’s first-place finish in the previous season but early playoff exit. With star guard Chris Goulding sidelined due to injury and several key departures, including Jo Lual-Acuil, Jack White, and Matthew Dellavedova, Melbourne United faced significant challenges before the season even began.

Caroline was signed alongside Isaac Humphries, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, and Rayjon Tucker to help fill the void left by departing talent. However, injuries further complicated matters. Ariel Hukporti, expected to be the team’s starting center, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during the NBL Blitz in Darwin. This forced United to rely heavily on Humphries, who was returning from knee issues, while veteran forwards David Barlow and Brad Newley, as well as Caroline, were tasked with logging minutes at the center position despite their natural roles being elsewhere.

United managed to open their season with a dramatic 101-97 overtime victory over the New Zealand Breakers. Rathan-Mayes had a standout performance, delivering 33 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. However, the team struggled for consistency in the early months of the season, exacerbated by the absence of Shea Ili, who was sidelined multiple times due to concussion issues. Ili’s absence forced Tucker into an unfamiliar role running the floor, which further disrupted team cohesion.

Caroline was brought in as a high-energy, hustling power forward, but his undersized stature became a liability as he was often required to play out of position at center. Across his tenure, Caroline averaged 5.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game. While he showed effort and grit on the court, his inability to adapt to the physical demands of playing as a big man in the NBL proved costly for United, who started the season with a 5-6 record.

Criticism from media and fans mounted as United’s struggles continued. Calls for an import change grew louder as the team looked for a spark to revitalize their campaign. While Tucker, who arrived with bold claims of being the league’s best first-year import, underperformed relative to expectations, it was Caroline who ultimately bore the brunt of the team’s frustrations. Unable to establish himself as a reliable contributor in his role, Caroline was released midseason.

Jordan Caroline played one season in the NBL. He averaged 5.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 6 NBL games.

Dan Boyce (836 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.