Rainbows
welcome back CarterThe UH alumnus and former
NBA player will be honored during
Thursday's game vs. LaTech
Hawaii basketball coach Riley Wallace worked to help Anthony Carter elevate his game in Carter's two seasons as a Rainbow Warrior. In the time since he's left the program, Carter has returned a favor.
In addition to donating $100,000 to establish a scholarship fund for the basketball program in 2002, Carter also keeps his former coach's spirits buoyed over the phone.
"He calls and talks to you, 'Stay in there coach, don't let them get on you.' He pumps you up too, and that's the way he was with his teammates," Wallace said. "He's a positive person. He's been that way with everybody who's been around him. That's why he was a great point guard."
Carter will return to the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday and will be honored during UH's Western Athletic Conference game against Louisiana Tech.
Hawaii went 42-17 in Carter's two seasons when he teamed with Alika Smith in the back court. He orchestrated Hawaii's landmark win over Kansas in the 1997 Rainbow Classic championship game and helped the team reach the National Invitation Tournament in 1997 and '98.
"They had 13 sellouts their senior year, so obviously they were an exciting team and he made a lot of things happen," Wallace said. "He and Alika complemented each other and he was able to include everybody in the offense. They were just a fun team to watch and it all started with him."
Carter, the WAC Pacific Division Player of the Year in 1997, finished with 1,070 points. He holds the school record for assists in a season with 212 and is second on the career list with 403. He scored 33 points in an NIT win over Gonzaga in 1998.
Carter, a national spokesman for the I Have a Dream Foundation, began his professional career in the CBA and signed with the Miami Heat in 1999, where he played four seasons.
After a contract snafu left him without a deal this season, Carter signed with the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs in the offseason and started the season opener against Phoenix in place of an injured Tony Parker. He had 10 points and six assists and scored the game-winning basket.
But a recurring knee injury forced him to the injured list. He had played just five games before the Spurs bought out the remainder of his contract, making him a free agent once again.
"They want him to rehab and get strong and hope that by the end of the year someone will pick him up who needs a veteran down the stretch," Wallace said. "If not then he's got the summer league to get back on a team next year. He's counting on playing again."
Poll watching: UH picked up points in both national polls following Saturday's 56-55 win over San Jose State. The Rainbows received 23 points, its highest total of the season, in the Associated Press Top 25 poll and 11 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll.
Southern Illinois, UH's opponent in next week's Bracket Busters game, made its debut in both polls. The Salukis are ranked 23rd by the coaches and 24th by the media.
Despite the bump in the poll, the Rainbows fell in the RPI rankings. The week's calculations resulted in UH dropping to No. 45, down from No. 37 last week, one spot behind Texas-El Paso.
Looking West: Even if he hadn't averaged 24 points in two games last week, Fresno State guard Marcus West might have earned WAC Player of Week honors for his endurance.
West played 99 of 100 minutes in the Bulldogs' two double-overtime games last week. He had 16 points and 10 rebounds in an 80-75 loss at Louisiana Tech. He then scored 32 points and tied a WAC record with nine 3-pointers in a 75-74 win over Southern Methodist on Saturday.
He made 11 of the 16 3-pointers he launched last week. West's efforts helped the Bulldogs split their road trip despite the suspensions of seniors Renaldo Major and Jonathan Woods and sophomore Terry Pettis, the Bulldogs' second-leading scorer.
All-time bests: The WAC's Web site is holding a vote for the conference's 25-year All-WAC team. For the next three weeks, fans can vote on the Internet for the conference's top players at each position. The winners of the poll and a team picked by a selection panel will be revealed after the voting at www.wac.org.
Military night: Fans with a military ID receive free admission to Thursday's game. The promotion is also good for a spouse and up to two additional dependents.
