In the wedding of basketball skill and entertainment, Anthony "A.C." Carter was the best man. For two seasons in the mid-to-late 1990s, he played the lead in the University of Hawai'i's basketball production, guiding the 'Bows to pulsating victories before SRO crowds.

"He was unbelievable," said Alika Smith, a guard on those 'Bow teams. "We had five guys working as a machine, and he was the catalyst."

During Carter's two UH seasons — 1996-'97 and 1997-'98 — the 'Bows went 42-17, including 20-10 in the Western Athletic Conference.

"I had some pretty good players," said Riley Wallace, the head coach, "and he was the best with his athleticism. I had guys who could shoot better, guys who were stronger. But A.C. had quickness, and a feel for the game and his teammates. He fit into the offense. He could really run it. He got our running game going."

Carter, it could be said, literally took his game to another level. Back then, UH ran the so-called G-game, a guard-oriented scheme that was a replica of UCLA's high-low offense. In basic terms, the post players would rotate to the top of the key, opening the way for a guard — the "G" in G-game — to slice into the vacated area.

"We had back cuts, back picks, backdoors," Smith said.

All designed for a layup ... except Carter's 41-inch vertical jump defied gravity and conventional offensive wisdom. Carter, who is 6 feet, would soar into the low post, parlaying lob passes into thunderous two-handed dunks.

"He made me a better player, and I made him better," Smith said. "An assist had to be put into the column."

Carter and Smith were publicized as the "Dynamic Duo," but Smith, who grew up on O'ahu's Windward side, deferred to the soft-spoken Atlanta native.

Smith had been a 'Bow for two seasons when Carter enrolled at UH in August 2007.

"The first day of open gym, there was talk about A.C.," Smith recalled. "Until you see (the talent), you just don't know. It's (associate head coach) Jackson Wheeler's fault. To him, everybody is going to be a pro. But then we saw A.C. jump. The first time, he got up there by the square (on the backboard). It was amazing. He had that vision. He shows it in the NBA."

Still, Carter did not have an easy start.

"For a lot of guys, it's their first time a long way from home," Wallace said. "There are different cultures and food. It takes time to adjust. He struggled at first, but he adjusted. We knew he would adjust."

Indeed, adapting was not unique for Carter, who had overcome a difficult background to reach Manoa.

He was raised by his grandmother in Atlanta.

He dropped out of high school as a sophomore.

And that's where it could have ended for a player whose game had few limits but his life had no foundation.

Instead, Carter met Llew Haden, organizer of the I Have a Dream Foundation in Atlanta. The organization staged late-night basketball games as a way to steer youths to academic services.

Carter ended up earning a GED. He then attended Saddleback Community College in California, where he earned his associate degree.

"I was a high school dropout, but I showed what happens when a person can get a second chance," Carter said. "I have a lot of people to thank."

UCLA and Nevada-Las Vegas pursued Carter initially, then backed off after believing he would not be able to run the point.

It came down to UH and San Francisco. But UH's strong ties to Saddleback gave the 'Bows the edge.

Carter made a verbal commitment to the 'Bows, and, two days later, took a recruiting trip to UH.

"They took me to a volleyball game," Carter said. "When I got there, the fans started cheering for me. It was the warmest feeling I'd ever felt. They cheered for me without ever seeing me play. (The reception) made me want to go to Hawai'i, and to give back. The people showed me so much love even though they didn't know me. I'll never forget that."

Carter orchestrated memorable performances. He helped the 'Bows win their first WAC regular-season title in 1997.

The following season, Carter played virtually one-armed after suffering a subluxed left (non-shooting) shoulder. Still, the 'Bows upset Indiana and second-ranked Kansas, and had three epic battles against Fresno State that season.

Carter disproved the critics, showing he can play the top on offense and defense. He was the point defender in UH's 1-2-2 zone defense.

"He covered for everybody else because he was so quick," Wallace said.

But concerns about his shoulder cost Carter from being drafted. He signed a free agent contract with Miami, the first stop in what is now a 10-year career.

"I never dreamed I would be in the NBA this long," Carter said. "The average NBA career is about three years. When I first came in, working with (Miami's) Pat Riley, he told me to do the things I did from day one. That's what I've been sticking with. Two months before training camp starts, I start running and conditioning and lifting. I've been doing that for the whole 10 years, keeping Pat Riley's words in my head from my rookie year in Miami. It's carried me a long way."

Carter has refined his game along the way. He no longer dunks.

"It was a great showtime to put on for the fans in Hawai'i," Carter said. "Once you get older, you get smarter and don't try to jump as high and pull things. Now I try to lay it in. Two points is two points."

Carter still maintains ties to Hawai'i. A few years ago, at the suggestion of Haden, Carter donated $100,000 to a scholarship fund benefitting the UH basketball program.

"Growing up, I didn't have anything," Carter said. "People gave to the I Have A Dream Foundation, which helped me. Without that program, I wouldn't have been able to come to Hawai'i and play in the NBA for so long. It's all about giving back and trying to help other people."

Carter and his wife have two sons, ages 14 and 7.

"I'm having the time of my life right now," he said. "I have two sons who put a smile on my face with the things they do. Just having a beautiful wife, someone who supports you whether you're doing good or bad, is a great feeling. These are the best days of my life."