Carlisle was not selected in the NBA draft, and instead began his professional career in basketball's minor leagues. He played in the 1999–2000 season for the Rockford Lightning of the CBA, where he averaged 10.6 points in a reserve role. In 2000, he moved to Venezuela to play for Marinos de Oriente. In 2000–01, he started the season with the San Diego Wildfire in the American Basketball Association, averaging 22.8 points, before moving on to Rooster Varese in Italy, where he averaged 24.7 points in 10 games, and later Adecco Estudiantes Madrid for the ACB playoffs. In 2001–02, he started the season with the ABA's Las Vegas Slam, but shortly moved back to Italy to play for De Vizia Scandone Avellino, where he appeared in 6 games and averaged 17.7 points.
