The University of Hawaii basketball team is set to retire former point guard Anthony Carter’s Rainbow Warrior jersey. Carter will be honored during the Feb. 21 game against UC Santa Barbara at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
“It means everything,” Carter told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in a telephone interview. “I wasn’t expecting anything. I just wanted to put smiles on the faces of all the people in Hawaii and just play my heart out.”
Standing at 5 feet, 11 inches, Carter energized the ’Bows with his quarter-court speed, accurate passes, and an impressive 45-inch vertical jump. Known for soaring over post defenders for alley-oop dunks, he was a dynamic presence on the court.
During his two seasons at UH through March 1998, Carter helped the Rainbow Warriors achieve a 42-17 record, including a memorable upset over then-No. 2 Kansas in the championship game of the 1997 Rainbow Classic. Despite playing with a surgically repaired subluxed shoulder, he set a UH record with 212 assists in the 1997-98 season.
Carter went on to play 12 NBA seasons, most notably four with the Miami Heat. He also served on the coaching staffs of the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat, and, until last spring, the Memphis Grizzlies. Although the Memphis staff was released at the end of last season, Carter remains under contract through June 2027.
“First time I have time off for myself,” Carter shared. “I have my own schedule.” He has been actively helping train his son, Devin Carter, who was the 13th overall pick by the Kings in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Giving back has always been important to Carter. In 2008, he donated $100,000 to the Rainbow Warriors as part of a scholarship endowment. “That showed my appreciation for everything the university did for me,” he said. “Without the fans, my teammates, and the coaches, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. They brought the energy every night. I felt it was the right thing to do because somebody gave me a chance to go back to school and get my GED.”
Carter’s journey wasn’t easy. After dropping out of high school following his freshman year, he earned his GED with help from a youth organization, then attended Saddleback Community College for two years before joining the Rainbow Warriors.
The decision to retire Carter’s UH jersey was recommended by UH coach Eran Ganot. Carter learned about the honor from UH general manager Patty Mills during a recent meeting at Carter’s condo pool area in Miami. Mills, along with five associates, decorated the space with UH No. 23 jerseys and brought a bottle of celebratory champagne.
“I wasn’t expecting anything after college,” Carter said. “I just enjoyed playing the game. To be one of only two jerseys retired in Hawaii’s history—Bob Nash’s No. 22 was the other—means everything to me. This is like my first accolade for all my hard work at any level.”
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/10/27/sports/sports-breaking/uh-to-retire-anthony-carters-jersey/
