Ten Greatest VMI Basketball Players: Number 3

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
High School: Perry Traditional Academy
Years at VMI: 1974–78
Position: Forward
-VMI Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
-1977 & 1978 SoCon Player of the Year
-3rd all-time VMI point scoring leader
-6th all-time rebounding leader

There was almost nothing in a VMI uniform that Ron Carter did not accomplish. A scrawny but dynamic 6'5 forward from Pittsburgh, Carter is among the most decorated Keydet basketball players, and certainly the most successful. In his four-year career from 1974 to 1978, Carter's teams won a total of 82 games while losing a mere 34. No other class in VMI history can say the same, and only this year's class of Rodney Glasgow, D.J. Covington, and Drew Absher broke 70.

Carter was born in Pittsburgh and attended high school at the Perry Traditional Academy. In his Rat year, the Keydets went a modest 13–13, 6–6 in the Southern Conference. They did, however, advance to the SoCon tournament semifinals, giving the team their first postseason win since 1964 (a team that went on to win the title). It was only a sign of things to come.

The following season, Carter, alongside forward Will Bynum and center Dave Montgomery, led the Keydets to a 22–10 (9–3) record, which included a 12–1 mark inside the "The Pit" (less commonly referred to as Cormack Field House). It was the program's first ever 20-win season, and almost never happened. The Keydets squeaked by Davidson in the quarterfinal round 71–69, hosted in Lexington. VMI then reeled off wins over Appalachian State and Richmond to head to the NCAA Tournament in Charlotte and a date with Tennessee.

Overcoming a 36-point performance from All-American Ernie Grunfeld and his Volunteers, Carter scored 19 points alongside Bynum's 20 and John Krovic's 17 to upset Tennessee, 81–75. VMI then held off DePaul in overtime at the Greensboro Coliseum to vanquish the Blue Demons 71–66. Carter chipped in 21 points to complement Bynum's 22. The run ended in the East Regional semifinals as Rutgers finished off the weary Keydets handily, despite Bynum's 34 points. Carter's four fouls limited him, but he still managed to score 15.

The Keydets continued their dominant run into 1977, going 26–4, once again breezing (mostly) through the SoCon tournament, once again proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Big Dance. After defeating Duquesne in the opening round, the defending champion Kentucky Wildcats eliminated VMI from the scene in nearly identical fashion to the game at Rutgers. Carter contributed 28 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

Another 20-win season followed the next year, and at the end of his cadetship Carter found himself as the school's all-time leading scorer (he is now third), and second all-time in rebounding (now fifth). He has four children and is now working as the city manager of Benton Harbor, Michigan. To end with a quote:

"I like VMI," he said. "I get a little tired of fans on the road yelling 'Hup, two, three, four' at us like we're a bunch of soldiers. But it's O.K. We were always killing their team at the time."