Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame nominee Carmelo Anthony and his high school coach, Steve Smith will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from Oak Hill Academy on Sunday February 2, 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.
The event will acknowledge both Anthony and Smith’s impact on the world of basketball, while also highlighting their influence as role models, philanthropists and leaders.
Anthony starred at the prestigious prep school located in Mouth of Wilson, Va. during his senior year of high school. An All-American during his one year of collegiate play at Syracuse University who later became the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Anthony averaged 21.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists during his senior year at Oak Hill Academy.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, but raised in Baltimore during his formative years, Anthony spent his first three years of high school at Maryland’s Towson Catholic High School. The eventual ten-time and three-time USA Basketball Olympic Gold Medalist and ten-time NBA All Star has often lauded the prep school for keeping him focused, centered and for keeping him out of trouble during his high school career.
“Oak Hill Academy changed my life,” shared Carmelo Anthony.
“If I had stayed back in Baltimore with school, I probably would not be here right now.”
Oak Hill Also Honoring Legendary Head Coach Steve Smith With Lifetime Achievement Award
Coach Smith guided Oak Hill for 37 seasons including that one special season with Anthony. During his tenure with the school, Smith coached 32 McDonald’s All-Americans and has had 34 former players go on to the NBA including 16 first round picks. Those notables include Jerry Stackhouse, Rajon Rondo, Kevin Durant, Stephen Jackson, Brandon Jennings, Rod Strickland, Josh Smith, Cam Thomas, Ron Mercer and Steve Blake.
Smith retired from coaching at Oak Hill in 2022 after winning nine National Championships and compiling 1,231 wins.
During the 2001-02 season, Anthony and Smith compiled a 32-1 record. While the event is celebrating both Smith and Anthony, Coach Smith shares that he is beyond ecstatic for Melo to accept the prestigious honor from Oak Hill. “It’s such an honor to be able to recognize 2002 Oak Hill alum Carmelo Anthony for all that he has achieved in the game of basketball,” Smith shared via email.
“I had the privilege of coaching many great players in my thirty-nine year career at Oak Hill. Melo is undoubtedly the greatest Warrior, for many reasons, to play on the Hill.”
One of Anthony’s memorable games as an Oak Hill Academy Warrior came on February 10, 2002 at the Prime Time Shootout tournament at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey. In that game, Anthony’s Oak Hill squad faced LeBron James’ St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
While James finished the game with 36 points, eight rebounds, six steals, five assists, Anthony poured in 34 points, hauled in 11 rebounds and got early bragging rights with a 72-66 Oak Hill win.
More than 20 years later, Anthony is retired from playing in the NBA and both he Coach and Smith will be honored by the Oak Hill Community with a Lifetime Achievement award.
The school notes that you can purchase tickets to attend the awards ceremony here.
All proceeds from the event will support The Carmelo Anthony and Coach Steve Smith Scholarship fund at Oak Hill Academy who opened their doors in 1878. Oak Hill enrolls approximately 120 students in grades 8–12 and is a 100% boarding school that is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools and is authorized to enroll international students.
“We actually give over $1.2 Million dollars a year in scholarships and financial aid to students at Oak Hill,” Oak Hill Academy President Micah Kurtz tells ScoopB.com by phone.
“Any proceeds from the event will be earmarked for this new scholarship foundation that we’re starting in honor of Coach Smith and Carmelo and it will just continue to give access to kids of all demographic levels to be able to come experience Oak Hill Academy and maximize their potential here.”
