Anthony Grundy: The Case for Honoring #2

As my excitement for the 2012-2013 Wolfpack basketball seasons reaches even unhealthier levels than normal, I have been passing the time thinking about my favorite players during my lifetime. Julius Hodge is at the top of my list, of course, and I always wanted to change my name to Lakista McCuller as a young child. If next year's squad comes anywhere close to reaching the typically hyperbolic NC State fanbase's expectations, then Lorenzo Brown, Calvin Leslie, Richard Howell, and Scott Wood will undoubtedly further cement their position in my hierarchy.

After Hodge, the current number two on my list is Anthony Grundy, who coincidentally wore #2 in Raleigh. Over the past decade, I feel as though many State fans have overlooked the impact the freakishly long Grundy had on NC State basketball and don't realize or remember how good he actually was. In fact, I could argue that his #2 jersey belongs in the rafters. With that in mind, here is my case for honoring Grundy's jersey:

• With 1,641 career points, Grundy is NC State's ninth all-time leading scorer.
• Led the team in scoring for three consecutive seasons (1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002), one of only seven players to accomplish this feat (David Thompson, Hawkeye Whitney, Thurl Bailey, Rodney Monroe, Todd Fuller, and Julius Hodge are the others).
• As a guard, he led the 2001-2002 Wolfpack in rebounds, averaging 5.5 per game.
• Ranks ninth all-time in 3-pointers made, draining 164 from downtown over his career.
• Dished out 356 career assists, good enough for tenth all-time in the school annals. His 1.28 career assist-to-turnover ratio is also tenth all-time.
• Led the Wolfpack in assists in both 1999-2000 and 2001-2002.
• Second all-time in steals, pilfering the rock 239 times in his career.
• Had seven steals against Georgia in the then-ESA's inaugural game on November 19, 1999, the fourth-highest mark in school history.
• His 70 steals in 2001-2002 and 69 steals in 1999-2000 rank sixth and seventh, respectively, for a single-season in Raleigh.
• Averaged more than two steals per game during his sophomore, junior, and senior campaigns.
• First Team All-ACC and First Team All-ACC Tournament in 2002.
• Second Team All-ACC Tournament in 1999.

Those are some of the statistics and honors that support a case for Mr. Grundy to have his name in the PNC rafters, but I'd like to add a few anecdotes as well:

• Julius Hodge is rightfully credited with being the face of the program's success between Jim Valvano and Mark Gottfried. Grundy, however, was the senior leader and First Team All-ACC performer on the team that led NC State back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991 when the 'Pack returned to the Big Dance in 2002. As important as Hodge was in the Wolfpack's return to March Madness, Grundy was the most important player on that team.
• When that team beat Michigan State in the First Round, I distinctly remember thinking that Grundy was passing the torch to Hodge. Grundy was in foul trouble for most of that game, so Hodge is the one everyone remembers leading the 'Pack back from a 12-point halftime deficit when he scored 14 of his 16 points during the second half. Grundy still finished that game with 16 points and 6 boards. Though I have no proof, I will always believe that Grundy, and this game in particular, was integral in Hodge's development.
• I would be remiss not to mention Grundy's unorthodox shot and unique free throw routines.
• Grundy was the best I have ever seen at using the backboard when driving to the basket. He took the adage "the square is your friend" to heart, adeptly using the glass from all angles.