SYRACUSE -- Carmelo Anthony spent one whirlwind season at Syracuse University, leading the school to the 2003 national basketball championship and achieving second team All-American status. Now he’s about to receive one of the school’s highest honors when his Orange jersey is retired later this season.
SU Athletics spokesman Pete Moore told me Wednesday that the school will retire Anthony’s jersey, but the date has not been determined. ESPN New York, which first reported the story, says the retirement ceremony will take place in February.
When I asked if anyone else will be able to wear Anthony’s number 15, Moore said “In basketball, we have retired jerseys, not numbers.” The numbers on previous retired jerseys have been worn again by future players, which is why Brandon Triche can wear Sherman Douglas’s number 20.
The 28-year-old Anthony is a five time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist. He was the third overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft after his lone season at Syracuse, where he averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.
Anthony currently wears number 7 for the New York Knicks, who retired number 15 for Earl Monroe and Dick McGuire. He will be the tenth former SU player to have his jersey retired.
