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'Press Box': Seniors had careers to remember
By Jordan Webster
Senior Reporter

Four years ago, not long after I had set foot inside this school’s front gate, I realized why I was there.

When I joined a dozen or so other apprehensive freshmen, filing into that classroom in Calloway Hall for my inaugural advisory group meeting, I had been on campus for less than 24 hours. There’s not much that I recall from that meeting.

But there was one thing that I’ll never forget. Most of us looked like the average student, but there was one conspicuous outlier in the bunch. He stunned us when he let on that he could have attended just about any institution he wanted, but that wasn’t the most impressive line on his resume. His Nikes stretched far into the semicircle of desks that we had arranged, and regardless of how he twisted and distorted his tall, lanky frame, he looked miserable as he squeezed into a desk tailored for a fifth-grader.

I give you 6-foot-8 forward Antwan Scott. Nice to meet you.

I’m not lying, not even exaggerating, when I tell you that I came to this school for the basketball. Maybe basketball wasn’t the whole package— small class sizes, a national reputation, laptop computers and warmer weather were minor factors — but the opportunity to watch ACC hoops from the floor clinched things for me. And I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I learned of Scott’s background at that first advisory get-together. As it turns out, ‘Twan was a real nice guy – very approachable, very talkative.

I discovered later that an outgoing personality was standard for the native of New Bern, who has sported a gaping grin for almost every minute of his four years here. But at the time, I didn’t know that. A guy on the team, in my group? Now that was cool.

But while it was the first memory that I stored away, I’m pleased to say it was far from my last. The most recent in a long line came March 2, in the closing seconds of the Demon Deacons’ 83-71 victory over N.C. State. Scott, along with fellow seniors Darius Songaila, Broderick Hicks, Craig Dawson and Ervin Murray, engaged in an impromptu and bittersweet celebration as the seconds ticked away in their final home game at Joel Coliseum. With Murray at the line shooting inconsequential free throws, the other four stood at midcourt, holding back tears and embracing one another, fighting against time to extend their last home game in a Deacon uniform as much as possible. Four-fifths of the senior class walked off the court together after Murray drained his first free throw to a standing ovation. The Deacon faithful remained on its collective feet until Murray swished his second free throw, and continued to applaud as the native of Wallace joined his fellow seniors. If you weren’t there, you’re deserving of a swift kick.

The moment was triumphant and sorrowful, gratifying and disappointing, all at the same time. It was priceless.

"I was sad, man," Scott said of the moment, after several days of reflection. "I knew I’ll never play in the gym again. For us to win the game, I was happy. But at the same time, I was sad.

"It just really touched me. I didn’t think it was going to touch me like that, but it did."

It touched me, too, to say the least. As have numerous others that this senior class has permanently etched in my recollection since they set foot in Winston-Salem.

I remember Hicks’ performance, as a freshman, against Florida State at the Joel, when the 6-foot-1 guard demonstrated a confidence and explosiveness that became commonplace throughout his career. Hicks sliced and diced his way through the Seminoles in the second half of that game, pouring in 15 points in the final nine minutes to lead the Deacons back from a 19-point deficit to a 67-65 victory. He sealed the victory, hitting a pair of free throws with 5.2 seconds to go to hammer the nails in the coffin. Not surprisingly, I remember Hicks hitting clutch three-pointers to send contests against Cincinnati and N.C. State to overtime last season.

I remember the exceptionally gifted and athletic Scott, storming off the bench in his freshman year against Virginia to score 13 points in less than six minutes in the second half. I remember Scott quieting the raucous Cameron Crazies with a pair of his trademark thunderous dunks in 2001.

I remember Murray, stepping in as the Deacons’ starting point guard midway through the 1999-2000 season, and directing the Deacs all the way to the NIT championship. And I remember Murray firing a perfect inbounds pass to a perfect spot and into the hands of Songaila in the Deacs’ season-opener this season against UNC-Wilmington, perfect enough for Songaila to turn and score, propelling the Deacons to a last-second victory.

I remember Dawson, dropping 20 points in a Deacon romp over third-ranked Kansas last season, one of 12 straight wins the team strung together to open the season. I remember his 38-point outburst, in which he drained a school-record 11 three-pointers, in a double-overtime loss to Clemson several weeks ago.

I remember Songaila, toying with the best post defenders that the ACC had to offer, lighting up Duke for 25 two years ago, scoring 27 against Virginia last season, and hitting the Cavs again this season for a career-high 30. I remember a foul-prone freshman struggling to stay on the court, and I’ve watched him evolve into a dominant, physical inside scorer that took over his final home game, and appropriately enough, sent three N.C. State players to the bench with five fouls.

But to think of the quintet as the actors in our own personal highlight collections is selfish. They’ve authored memories for us, but most important are the memories that will stick with them for the rest of their lives, on and off the hardwood.

"I’ve met so many nice people here," Scott said. "I’ve made a lot of friends. And when I graduate, I’m going to miss a lot of people.

"With basketball, it’s just being here with the guys," he said. "This is like my home, this is like my family.

"We (the seniors) are real close. We communicate a lot; if we have a problem, we go to each other. And we’re just always having fun, on and off the court. We have plenty of memories."

But they aren’t done yet. In this year’s media guide, many players were asked to give their most memorable moment in sports. Most responses were standard, referring to a specific instance in their careers. Antwan’s reply? "Hopefully happen this season."

He’s sticking to it.

"We don’t want to lose two games," he said. "We just want to keep winning. We lose in (either) tournament, and it’s over.

"I want to go until we cut some nets down."

They may, or they may not, accomplish Antwan’s expectations. Either way, thanks for the memories.