`He's catching up'.(Golden State Warriors player Antawn Jamison)

A draft-night change of uniforms will forever link former North Carolina teammates VINCE CARTER and ANTAWN JAMISON. After two rough seasons, Jamison is living up to his end of the trade that sent him to Golden Slate.

Peel away the layers of Antawn Jamison's slow rise to NBA stardom. Set aside his bumpy, temporary move to small forward. Step past his surgically repaired left knee. Peer beyond his suddenly accurate outside shot, the byproduct of long summer days in the gym.

Finally, at some fundamental level, there is this: Carolina pride. Jamison did not want to be forever known as the Other Tar Heel, mere friend and trading partner of gravity-defying dunk artist Vince Carter. Jamison did not want to blend into the background, as his cohorts from the 1998 draft--Carter, Jason Williams, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce--showed off their talents.

Or put it this way: As Carter quickly climbed into Michael Jordan territory, Jamison threatened to linger in Sam Bowie's neighborhood. No one wants that.

Now, nearly three years removed from a draft-night trade for his North Carolina teammate, Jamison again belongs in the same sentence as Carter. No, he does not soar to the basket with Vince-like majesty, nor does he throw down many breathtaking slams. But unlike during his rocky rookie season and injury-shortened encore, Jamison is filling the basket and plucking rebounds, as if this were just another pickup game at the Dean Dome.

The Warriors, consequently, no longer endure widespread ridicule for their preference of Jamison over Carter (go ahead and ridicule them for other reasons, if you wish). They persuaded the Raptors to draft Jamison for them with the No. 4 overall pick in '98. Then the Warriors took Carter at No. 5 and shipped him and cash to the Raptors for Jamison. They had their man.

Problem was, Jamison did not truly validate the Warriors' faith in him until this season, his third in the league. He dropped hints last season, especially after the Warriors fired coach P.J. Carlesimo. This season, he's averaging 25 points and 9.4 rebounds, scoring inside and out, giving Golden State a bright light in another season of rampant darkness.