Carmelo Anthony Wanted to Stay at Syracuse to Party

Jim Boeheim had to tell Anthony to declare for the NBA Draft.

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Carmelo Anthony had a blast as a freshman at Syracuse. He had so much fun, in fact, he didn’t want to leave college for the NBA, the former Orangeman revealed to Dan Patrick. "I was actually having so much fun at school," Anthony told Dan Patrick. "At that time Syracuse was maybe the No. 1 party school in America. [Laughs.]"

Longtime Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim had to help Anthony make the decision. "I was actually enjoying myself and didn't want to leave," Anthony said. "And then Boeheim brought me into his office, and kind of kicked me out. He said, 'your services are no longer needed.'"

Earlier in the interview, Anthony said he didn’t think he was ready to go to the NBA straight from high school, but he also "just always wanted to experience college." It seems he got the full experience indeed. The Princeton Review now has Syracuse ranked as the No. 5 party school in the country.

Anthony played one season for the Orange and, with the help of a timely Hakim Warrick block, led Syracuse to a national title. He was National Freshman of the Year, a Second-Team All-American, and the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. Anthony was drafted No. 3 overall in the 2003 NBA draft, behind his good friend LeBron James and, of course, Darko Miličić.

Elsewhere in the interview, Anthony said it’s his goal to retire as a Knick, and he hopes he’ll be allowed to help decide New York’s next coach.

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