With his right hand on the frame that contained his jersey and his left hand gripping a microphone before an audience that dared not look away, Carmelo Anthony’s voice quivered.

For a moment he got choked up, unable to process the honor being bestowed upon him.

“This is one of the most memorable days of my life,” Anthony said, “of my career.”

Standing on a stage at the center of Jim Boeheim Court, Anthony became the 10th Syracuse athlete to have his jersey retired. He watched as his iconic No. 15 was raised to the rafters at halftime of a record-breaking game, with several of his 2003 teammates alongside him. The current New York Knicks star, whose name graces the basketball practice facility that aided the program’s rise to an elite level, was humbled by the honor that placed him in the company of Dave Bing, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Dwayne “Pearl” Washington and several other Syracuse legends.

Though he spent but a single season in an Orange uniform, Anthony left and indelible mark on the basketball program and the university. He guided Syracuse to its only national championship in 2003, leading the team in scoring (22.2 points per game) and rebounding (10.0 rebounds per game) while being named first-team All-American.

He told the crowd he never thought he would come here, saying it was too cold in Syracuse. But the very next day Jim Boeheim was waiting on his front step, and after that he realized that “real men wear orange.”

After his one memorable year in Syracuse, Anthony ascended to the top of the NBA after Denver drafted him with the third overall pick, establishing himself as one of the most talented scorers in the league. It earned him the opportunity to play a leading role on two gold medal teams (2008 and 2012) for which Boeheim, his former coach, served as an assistant under Mike Krzyzewski.

Anthony furthered his connection to Syracuse with a $3 million donation toward the construction of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. It features two full-size basketball courts, a weight room, training room, several classrooms and offices for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Boeheim has said on multiple occasions that the program would never have reached an elite level were it not for the practice facility. It is a tool he and his staff make the most of in recruiting and everyday workouts.

And to have his jersey retired on this day, the one that broke the on-campus attendance record and against Syracuse’s archrival, made it a moment Anthony said he will never forget. At the podium in the media work room he choked up once more, reflecting on a community that embraced him and made him one of their own.

He never thought this day was possible as a teenager back in 2002-03, and the realness of the moment overwhelmed him. Two gold medals and a national title still did not prepare him for Saturday’s emotion.

Said Anthony: “This is a day I will never forget.”

Published on February 23, 2013 at 5:24 pm

Contact Michael: mjcohe02@syr.edu | @Michael_Cohen13