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Carter hops on plane, lands in Philly after noon
Associated Press
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Vince Carter had no problem finding
work after graduation.
|  | | Vince Carter, right, catches up with ex-UNC teammate Brendan Haywood, who figures to follow Carter into NBA employment soon. |
The Toronto star squeezed in attending graduation ceremonies at
North Carolina before Sunday's Game 7 of the Raptors' playoff
series with the Philadelphia 76ers – and left himself open to
criticism about whether the last-minute travel was a distraction.
Carter, who left school for the NBA after his junior year in
1998, completed his final correspondence course this summer and
earned his degree in Afro-American studies.
He was recognized with the rest of North Carolina's Class of
2001, but left the ceremonies early to catch a flight to
Philadelphia.
"This is a special time for me, an important time for me,"
Carter said. "Now that this day is here, I'm feeling better and
better about it. This is something I had to do for me, regardless
of what other people say about it, because it's something I wanted
to do, something I had to do.
"It's something I'm going to accomplish on top of playing in
Game 7 and I think I'm mentally prepared for both."
Carter flew to North Carolina on team owner Larry Tanenbaum's
private plane and arrived at the campus about 8:30 a.m. After
signing autographs and taking pictures outside the ceremony at
Kenan Stadium, he walked out with the rest of the students.
Carter, wearing sunglasses and the traditional Carolina blue
academic regalia, sat next to North Carolina basketball players
Brendan Haywood and Max Owens and football player Cam Holland.
The crowd did not respond when Carter walked onto the stage with
the rest of the graduates, but it let out a huge roar when UNC
Board of Governors chairman Benjamin S. Ruffin acknowledged
Carter's presence and congratulated him for making the effort to be
there.
About 20 minutes into the nearly two-hour ceremony, Carter got
up, high-fived Haywood and was whisked away to Tanenbaum's waiting
jet for the flight to Philadelphia. He missed most of the speeches,
including ESPN sportscaster Stuart Scott's commencement speech, and
was not there for the ceremonial turning of the tassel.
Carter arrived in Philadelphia after noon, about five hours
before game time.
Coach Lenny Wilkens warned Carter about the possible criticism if
he played poorly in Game 7.
Teammates Antonio Davis and Chris Childs issued terse no
comments when asked about Carter's plans, although others said they
had no problem.
Carter did not actually get his diploma Sunday. North Carolina
undergraduates do not receive them during graduation ceremonies,
and Carter will receive his in the mail, university spokeswoman
Karen Moon said.
Scott, a 1987 North Carolina graduate, made reference to
Carter's attendance and said he supported Carter's decision to
attend the ceremony.
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ALSO SEE
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Carter's graduation day ends with playoff failure
Murphy: A toast to The Graduate
Stuart Scott's UNC commencent speech
Vitale: Graduation decision no-brainer for Vince
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Dick Vitale says he is proud of Vince Carter for attending his graduation.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Stuart Scott offers his first-hand thoughts on Vince Carter attending UNC graduation.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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