Carmelo Anthony (Part 1)

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7 Mar 2024

Carmelo Anthony (Part 1)

Carmelo Anthony, born on May 29, 1984, is an American former professional basketball player who enjoyed a successful 19-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Throughout his career, Anthony was recognized as an NBA All-Star ten times and was named to the All-NBA Team six times. He played college basketball for the Syracuse Orange, where he made an immediate impact by winning a national championship as a freshman in 2003 and earning the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player award.

Following his standout freshman season at Syracuse, Anthony declared for the 2003 NBA draft and was selected as the third overall pick by the Denver Nuggets. During his time with the Nuggets, Anthony emerged as one of the league's premier scorers and led the team to the playoffs every year from 2004 to 2010. Under his leadership, the Nuggets also clinched two division titles and made their first conference finals appearance since 1985 in 2009.
In 2011, Anthony was traded from the Nuggets to the New York Knicks just before the NBA trade deadline. He made a significant mark with the Knicks, setting a franchise and Madison Square Garden single-game scoring record by dropping a career-high 62 points against the Charlotte Bobcats on January 24, 2014.

Throughout his career, Anthony had stints with several other NBA teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the Portland Trail Blazers before joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
Anthony also had a distinguished international career, representing the US national team in the Olympics four times and winning a bronze medal in 2004 and gold medals in 2008, 2012, and 2016. As of April 2016, he held records for the US Olympic team's all-time leader in points, rebounds, and games played. Additionally, Anthony ranks tenth among NBA career scoring leaders.

Carmelo Anthony was born in the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn, New York City. His father, Carmelo Iriarte, was of diverse ancestry, with roots in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and various African, Spanish, and indigenous heritage. His mother, Mary Anthony, is African-American. Tragically, Anthony's father passed away from cancer when he was just two years old. When Anthony was eight, his family relocated to Baltimore.
During his high school years, Anthony attended Towson Catholic High School, where he initially commuted for the first three years before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior year. He experienced a significant growth spurt during the summer of 1999, growing five inches taller and emerging as one of the area's top basketball players. Despite facing challenges with academic eligibility and disciplinary issues, Anthony's talent on the court was undeniable, and he garnered numerous accolades, including being named The Baltimore Sun's metro player of the year and Baltimore Catholic League player of the year.
As a highly sought-after recruit, Anthony ultimately decided to declare early for the NBA draft and announced his commitment to Syracuse University before his senior year. However, due to academic struggles, he transferred to Oak Hill Academy for his final year of high school. Anthony's performance in prestigious tournaments and his friendship with fellow basketball phenom LeBron James helped solidify his status as one of the top prospects in the country.

During Carmelo Anthony's senior year at Oak Hill Academy, the team enjoyed significant success, boasting a 42-game winning streak. Anthony's standout performances helped Oak Hill secure victories in prestigious tournaments, including The Les Schwab Invitational, where he earned the tournament MVP award. Additionally, the team won the Nike Academy National Invitational, defeating top-ranked Westchester High School in the final.
One of the most anticipated matchups of the season was against St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, led by LeBron James. In this highly anticipated showdown, Anthony scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Oak Hill to a 72–66 victory over James' team.

Despite suffering their only loss of the season in a rematch against Mater Dei, Oak Hill ended the season ranked third in the country with a 32–1 record. Anthony's stellar performance throughout the season earned him recognition as a USA Today All-USA First Team and Parade First-Team All-American selection.
He also showcased his skills in high school All-Star games, scoring a game-high 27 points in the Jordan Brand Classic and winning the Sprite Slam Jam dunk contest at the McDonald's All-American Game. These performances solidified his status as one of the top high school seniors in the nation, with HoopScoop ranking him as the No. 1 high school senior in the class of 2002.
Despite initial struggles with the ACT, Anthony eventually achieved the necessary score to qualify academically for Syracuse University. He decided to stick with his college plans and prepared for his freshman year at Syracuse. Anthony's outstanding high school career earned him numerous accolades, including being named to ESPN RISE's all-decade team and recognized as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.