Sept. 4, 2009

By Adam Lucas

Antawn Jamison never had a Senior Day.

His last action as a Tar Heel came in San Antonio, where he memorably kissed the center court logo after Carolina's disappointing Final Four loss to Utah. Jamison turned pro after the season and--along with junior classmate Vince Carter--became a top-5 NBA draft pick.

Leaving early put him on a path to an All-Star career and bountiful contracts, but it also deprived him of standing at center court in the Smith Center and soaking in the cheers of a sellout crowd one last time.

Tonight, he plans to remedy that omission. Jamison is one of 20 former Tar Heels participating in tonight's professional alumni game, which tips off at 8 p.m. in a sold-out Smith Center.

"Right before the game, I might think about that," Jamison said this week as he waited for a pickup game to begin. "I might get nervous like I used to before the games...I'm planning on doing what I love, which is playing the game of basketball. But most importantly, I want to get that last roar from the fans and play on that court once again. That's going to bring back good memories.

"We were all here at different times but we've got the same love for it. My parents are coming and my kids will be here. The last time I played here as a Tar Heel, I was a kid myself. To have my family and friends here will be special."

Yes, Antawn Jamison has kids now. We will now pause for you to count your gray hairs.

Carolina fans sold out the game weeks ago, proving they're plenty excited about the rare opportunity to see a generation's worth of heroes under one roof. The game's sellout is the basketball equivalent--at $20 apiece, not free admission--of the football programs that get national attention for drawing 50,000 fans or more to a spring game. Remember, some programs have never played in front of 20,000 fans for the most important basketball game in school history. Carolina does it for an exhibition...on a holiday weekend.

Expected spine-tingling moments include upgraded player introductions, pregame recognition of Dean Smith (if you have a ticket, it's your job to make it deafening...and make it lengthy), and a special Hall of Fame recognition ceremony. But despite the fan excitement, there may be a group with even more buzz about the game: current and former players. Several alums showed up a couple days early to extend their visit to Chapel Hill.

Larry Drew II might be the most difficult player in college basketball to impress, because he's grown up around the professional game. He spent part of his summer playing pickup games at UCLA, where the games get healthy Bruin alum turnouts. This weekend is different.

"Carolina Basketball is probably the biggest name in college basketball," Drew II said. "I've never seen anything like I'm going to see (Friday) night, with all the alums coming back and playing."

Deon Thompson, another California native turned Tar Heel, needed a crash course in Carolina hoops when he arrived on campus. Raised far from the cradle of ACC basketball, he followed the pro game more than the college game as a youngster.

Now, though, he can recite Tar Heel history with the most fanatical Tobacco Road diehard.

"It's been an education for me," Thompson said. "Growing up, I knew James Worthy because he played for the Lakers. When I got here, I started to learn more about Phil Ford, Mitch Kupchak, and those types of names. I'm thankful to be a part of this history.

"I can't wait to see the history of Carolina basketball under one roof. It's crazy to think how many Carolina connections are out there, and we get to see all those guys in the same uniform again. Everyone has gone their different directions, but we're still one big family."

One of the senior citizens of that family, at least for this weekend, is Jamison. It's been 11 years since he wore a Carolina uniform, meaning some in attendance will have no memory of the should-be-famous double-blowout home win over Duke in 1998 or the brawls with Clemson or the ACC Tournament championships.

Jamison, however, remembers it all. But now he appreciates it in a very different way than he did as an undergrad.

"When we were here, we were young and we had no idea what the world was about," he said. "Coach Smith and his staff taught me so much. When you're going through that process, you don't see it. But it paved the way for me to accomplish what I've accomplished, both as a person and as a basketball player. It's all because of this University."

Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly. He is also the author or co-author of five books on Carolina basketball, including the upcoming book on the 2009 national title, One Fantastic Ride. Get real-time UNC sports updates from the THM staff on Twitter.