We all know by now that the Lancers have a new all-time scoring leader in Antwan Carter. Carter also will leave Longwood with the second most rebounds in program history, behind Jerome Kersey, and with around forty double-doubles. So does Antwan’s number deserved to be retired? Currently the only numbers retired in Willett Hall are #52 (Kersey) and #54 (Colin Ducharme). Kersey’s resume included ten school records, leading the country in rebounding, was the Virginia Player of the Year, and he was also a two-time Division II All-American. Kersey was also the only Lancer to be drafted in the NBA when he was taken in the second round by the Portland Trailblazers in 1984. Ducharme was only at Longwood for a year but he lead the Lancers to a DII Final Four appearance, was a first-team All American, and was also the Division II National Player of the Year in 2001. Kevin Jefferson, LU’s previous scoring leader, does not have his jersey retired but is in the Athletics Hall of Fame at Longwood.
So given the bar set by Ducharme and Kersey, does Carter deserve to have his #4 up on the wall of Willett Hall? Personally, I struggle with this question. Antwan has been a tremendous player in a tough situation, and I don’t want to penalize him for that situation and a lack of opportunities in the postseason. However, as tremendous as Carter’s accomplishments are he has played in an era with more games and has not received any national or state recognition beyond the Independent level. Kersey and Ducharme were dominate players on the Division II and All-Americans, Antwan is a very good player and would likely be a first or second teamer on the All-Big South team, but I feel as if that is not good enough to have your number immortalized in Longwood lore. Is AC a tremendous player? Yes. Should we be grateful for what he has done as a Lancer? Yes. Is he one of the greatest of all time for LU? Yes. Does he deserve to be in the LU Hall of Fame? Yes. Should his number hang in Willett? No.
How could you possibly say no????
Kevin Jefferson’s number wasn’t retired. Kersey and Ducharme were All-Americans? Would AC be an All-American on the D2 level? Absolutely not. Eric Maynor two-time CAA player of the year, that should be the bar. If Antwan was in the Big South would he be the conference Player of the Year? I doubt it, he’d have trouble making the 1st team.
This is nothing against Antwan he’s a a very good player and I’m very grateful for his time here, but he’s not at the level that Ducharme and Kersey were at. Bar needs to be set high to get your number on the wall.