It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since a baby-faced Carmelo Anthony led the Syracuse Orange (Orangemen, back then) to the school’s first national title. The spectacular freshman, who was named the 2003 Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, led a young squad featuring the likes of fellow frosh Jerry McNamara and sophomore Hakim Warrick to an 81-78 win over Kansas in the championship game.
Anthony left for the NBA soon after, and now, a decade after his greatest amateur triumph, Syracuse is honoring his historic season by raising his #15 jersey to the hallowed rafters of the Carrier Dome. Anthony becomes the tenth Orange player to have his jersey retired, joining Dave Bing, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Billy Gabor, Vic Hanson, Billy Owens, Wilmeth Sadat-Singh, Rony Seikaly and Pearl Washington.
Perhaps most fittingly of all, the ceremony will take place February 23rd when Syracuse faces Georgetown in the final intra-Big East Conference meeting between to the two college basketball power houses — Syracuse is joining the ACC next season.
About John Ferensen