By Brian Roe, Sports Writer
For someone whose name is already etched in the ACU athletic history books, one would think this someone would happily accept praise and willingly speak about her personal achievement.
Not so with Melanie Carter.
Her individual records make her stand out easily. With over 1,800 points in her Wildcat career, Carter ranks third on the all-time scoring list.
Carter, the reigning player of the week in the Lone Star Conference South Division, doesn’t spend time thinking about the records.
“Right now that’s not a bit on my mind,” Carter said. “It’s a pretty long shot anyway, but I’m not focused on or even thinking about that right now.”
Carter, however, is not interested in talking about personal achievements. That’s just not the type of person she is.
Standing six feet, two inches tall, Carter often towers above others even on a basketball court. Her head coach, Shawna Lavender, however, said that in every day life she doesn’t see herself as above anyone.
“She’s the most humble person,” Lavender said. “That’s just the way Melanie is. She’s had all the success in the world and always gives the credit to others. No matter what she does on the court she always gives the credit to her teammates, and she’s the same way off the court.”
Carter won the Lone Star Conference freshman of the year award during the 2000 season for the Wildcats. Lavender said Carter was shocked when she found out she won.
“We as coaches saw it, but she didn’t even realize how good she was as a freshman,” Lavender said.
She may not realize it, but her teammates certainly do.
“Mel is a great leader both on and off the court,” said sophomore guard Ashley King. “She is a good basketball player and a good person.”
Carter has given so much to ACU, but she said that ACU has given her even more.
“Playing basketball at ACU is such a blessing,” Carter said. “I feel so blessed to have coaches who are godly people and who have encouraged us in our spiritual lives off the court. The values I’ve learned here and the encouragement given to me has made a huge difference in my experience here at ACU.”
Lavender said that Carter is a great basketball player but an even better Christian. She said everything Carter does, including playing basketball, is done to the glory of God.
“She puts her heart and soul into everything and you can see it in the way she acts, the way she conducts herself and the way she is around other people. She is the epitome of a great Christian model.”
Besides leading the Wildcats into a tie for first place this year, Carter is also keeping herself busy through song.
The well-rounded Carter has a passion for singing and plans on pursuing a career in music after her career at ACU comes to a close.
“I’ve known for quite a while that I’ve wanted to do something with music because it’s something I love,” Carter said.
Carter applied to Belmont University in Tennessee and plans on pursuing her dream after she graduates from ACU.
“I would love to get into the contemporary Christian music industry,” she said.
After three straight years of missing the post-season, Carter is currently leading her team toward a playoff berth for the first time since 1999. She averages over 18 points and 9 rebounds per game for the Wildcats.
Just watch Melanie Carter on the basketball court and you’ll see a good basketball player. Ask her to sing a song for you and you’ll likely hear a good singer. But more importantly, spend a few minutes around her and you’ll see a good person.
“You want to be a better person when you are around Melanie,” Lavender said. “I have no doubt that whatever she does she will achieve success.”
Just don’t expect her to claim it.
