SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Five years after he enrolled for hismemorable year at Syracuse University, Carmelo Anthony helped breakground Wednesday on a new basketball practice facility that willbear his name."I just can't thank the Syracuse community enough for bringingme here," said Anthony, who as a freshman led the Orange to the2003 NCAA national championship and then left school to sign withthe NBA's Denver Nuggets. "I don't think anybody realizes how muchthis is going to do for the men's and women's teams."Flanked by head coach Jim Boeheim and athletic director DarylGross, Anthony, shovel in hand and orange hard hat atop his head,posed for photos next to the architect's rendering of the new $19million complex, which will be called the Carmelo K. AnthonyBasketball Center. Anthony donated $3 million to get thefundraising under way.The 23-year-old Anthony, who grew up in a tough neighborhood inBaltimore that he called "The Pharmacy" because of rampant drugabuse, was beaming with pride."I don't think there is an active athlete in the world todaywho has their own building, especially at my age," Anthony said."My plan when I came to Syracuse was to stay at least two to threeyears. I didn't think I was going to do what I did in that oneyear. But playing in front of 30,000 people, we was like theBeatles, walking around and getting that love around the city. Itfelt good. I always told coach Boeheim, 'Whatever you need me todo, I'm going to do.' "Gross said the university has accumulated $13.5 million to dateand hopes to have the entire amount necessary before constructionis completed."It helps us and will continue to help us as we go forward.That's a huge part of college basketball as a recruiting aspect,"Boeheim said. "This new practice facility will bring us to thevery top of college basketball. It's the first time we can saythat. It's always been kind of a thought process with me over thelast few years that we needed our own practice facility. (Wife)Juli and I talked about it and she asked Carmelo - I was afraid todo it."When he (Anthony) came in this door, we knew we had somethingspecial right away. We didn't know how special. Once Carmelo reallycame on board, it's not just his gift, which is obviously huge, Ithink other people decided to get involved."The basketball center, to be built adjacent to Manley FieldHouse, will have two courts, offices for both programs, anequipment room and an aqua pool for rehabbing injuries. It willtake about 18 months to complete once construction gets under way."I've seen a few facilities, and there are a lot of nice onesthat are opening as we speak," Boeheim said. "I think in eachcase they have been instrumental in helping those schools,especially the early ones like Florida. I think that was atremendous boost for their program. Now, we will have one aswell."Women's coach Quentin Hillsman was ecstatic."This could have been different," said Hillsman, who carriesan image of the new facility to use as a recruiting tool andalready has attracted one of the school's strongest classes. "Alot of programs in the country have practice facilities where theirwomen's teams aren't able to use it and aren't welcome. From dayone, one of the people that really supported us to be in there wascoach Boeheim."Gross said that once the new center opens it will relieve thelogjam that plagues both Manley and the Carrier Dome."With the weather here you have teams that are waiting in lineto get into the dome to practice," Gross said. "Now, all of asudden, exponentially you increase all your practice opportunities.This is totally amazing."Gross said FieldTurf, which was installed inside the CarrierDome prior to the 2005 football season, would also be installed inManley.

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