For two years of my college basketball career, I played in the Kresse Arena. There, the crowd was close and the energy high, though the venue was small.

In 2008–09, during my junior year, my teammates and I moved to the Carolina First Arena, where screaming students and fans filled the new court’s 5,100 seats, surrounding us each game with their support. I was proud to be a member of the first team to play in that gym. To me, the new arena meant the College of Charleston basketball team was a force to be reckoned with. We were winners. We were big time.

We paid respect to the new court through constant contact. We dribbled on it. We pivoted on it in screeching sneakers. We dropped sweat onto it. When the ball came loose, we dove on it.

We fought many battles on that court, both good and bad. My senior year, we beat powerhouse UNC. We played Wofford on that court, too, in a nationally televised game. Our fans wore white in an effort to “White Out Wofford.” We won by two that night.

Even when I walk into an empty Carolina First Arena, the fans are there in my head – chanting, waving and screaming for their team. Like I said, we were big time.

– Tony White Jr.

White was Coach Bobby Cremins’ first recruit at the College, and he finished his highly decorated four-year career ranked in the top-five in the College’s Division I history in scoring and ninth all-time.

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