Many players have worn the No. 23 jersey in the 106-year history of University of Hawai’i men’s basketball. But after last Saturday night, that No. 23 will forever belong to Anthony “AC” Carter, the legendary former guard who brought countless thrills and many sellout crowds to the Stan Sheriff Center from 1996 through 1998.
Carter’s jersey became only the second one to be retired by UH — with Bob Nash’s jersey No. 33 being the first. It became official at halftime of the Warriors’ thrilling 78-75 overtime victory over UC Santa Barbara, when an enlarged No. 23 banner was unraveled in the rafters of the SSC as a season-high crowd of 8,103 roared in approval and appreciation.
“I just want to say mahalo to everybody and thank you for all the memories you gave me, and I’m sure I gave y’all a lot of memories also,” Carter said. “Y’all brought it each and every night for us, and I just want to say, ‘Thank you.’ And can we say, ‘Mahalo,’ to Coach Riley Wallace?’ “
Carter then said, “I got one last request … will y’all let me give you two more points?”
Nash, who was an assistant to head coach Wallace during Carter’s playing days at UH, then grabbed a basketball and threw a bounce pass to a cutting Carter, who caught it and laid it in.
Carter, who is from Atlanta, was a high school dropout who earned a GED and came to Hawai’i via Saddleback (Mission Viejo, Calif.) Junior College, recruited by former UH assistant Jackson Wheeler. In just two seasons, Carter scored 1,070 points (still No. 13 on the school’s all-time list), including three 30-point games and 24 games of 20-points or more (tied for fifth in UH history).
He also dished out 403 assists — second on the Warriors’ all-time career list, and set a school record with 212 assists in the 1997-98 season. His 191 assists in 1996-97 is tied for fourth on UH’s single-season list. Carter’s career average of 6.9 assists per game is a school record.
He also is tied for sixth in UH history for career steals with 142, and his 78 steals in 1996-97 is the third-highest single-season total.
Carter was named 1996-97 Player of the Year in the Western Athletic Conference’s Pacific Division, after leading the Warriors to their first-ever regular season league title.
He won All-WAC First Team and All-America honorable mention honors in both of his seasons and led Hawai’i to records of 21-8 and 21-9, advancing to the National Invitation Tournament both years. The Warriors advanced to the second round in 1997 and third round in 1998.
UH averaged 7,653 fans in 1996-97 and 9,615 in 1997-98.
After his college career, Carter played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. He also served as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat.