UNCW's TJ Carter Named Jimmy V Finalist

UNCW's TJ Carter gliding in for a dunk on Saturday against ODU. Photo: Calvin McGowan

WILMINGTON, N.C. – UNC Wilmington senior guard T.J. Carter, who has endured three hernia surgeries to become one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s elite men’s basketball players in 2007-08, is a finalist for the eighth annual V Foundation Comeback Award.

Presented in conjunction with ESPN and announced during ESPN’s Final Four/NIT coverage, and conducted in memory of Jim Valvano, the late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, the award is awarded annually to an individual or team that has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity.

“T.J. is truly a remarkable story and he continues to be an inspiration for all of us,” said Benny Moss, UNCW’s second-year coach. “He loves playing the game so much and couldn’t walk away from it. Much like Jimmy V, he never let the constant pain affect his positive outlook on life, and his love of basketball.”

Carter struggled with a debilitating hernia condition for several years, undergoing a left hernia repair in 2004 and a bilateral hernia repair in 2005, and eventually redshirting during the 2006-07 season. He had a third operation in October of 2006 by renowned surgeon William C. Meyers, chairman of the Department of Surgery at Drexel University’s College of Medicine. The final surgery was successful, providing Carter with the relief he needed to return at full speed to the basketball floor.

With his health much-improved, Carter turned in one of the best seasons in the CAA in 2007-08. A heavy favorite to earn First-Team All-Conference honors, the Mechanicsville, Md., product was ranked in six statistical categories in the CAA, including scoring (16.2 ppg), rebounding (6.7 rpg) and assists (4.26 apg). He recently sank 37 consecutive free throws to set a new school record for free throw accuracy.

In addition to Carter, the other finalists are: Jermaine Bishop, Northern Arizona University; Kevin Coble, Northwestern University; Mickey Duncan, Berry College; Jamar Fleming, Virginia State University; Alex Franz, St. Mary’s College of Maryland; Khaliq Gant, Cornell University; Danielle Hagen, University of Northern Colorado; Jessica Hall, University of Memphis; Nicole Hester, Drexel University; Darnell Jackson, University of Kansas; Taylor Rochestie, Washington State University, Carlos Taylor, Montana State University; Anthony Williams, SUNY Plattsburgh.

The 2008 recipient will be selected by an eight-member sub-committee of The V Foundation Board of Directors. Past recipients of the award include Purdue’s Katie Douglas (2001), Western Michigan’s Kristin Koetsler (2002), Arizona State’s Justin Allen (2003), Texas’ Jamie Carey (2004), Washington’s Kayla Burt (2005), Western Washington’s Grant Dykstra (2006), and the United States Military Academy Women’s Basketball Team (2007).

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Valvano. Since then, it has raised more than $70 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide.

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT