Carmelo Anthony is weeks away from the NBA Draft, but Nike couldn't wait to sign the Syracuse star.

Anthony, projected to be among the top three picks in the draft on June 26, signed a shoe and apparel deal with Nike on Tuesday.

Anthony, the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward who was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player after leading Syracuse University to the men's basketball championship, will now wear Nike shoes for the next six years.

"If I had to wear something else, I guess I would deal with it, but I've been wearing Nikes since I was a little kid," Anthony said. "They brought me in like family, and I felt at home when I signed with them."

Anthony, who will turn 19 on May 29, is accustomed to the swoosh. Both his high school, Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and the Orangemen have contracts with Nike.

Nike spokesperson Celeste Alleyne confirmed Tuesday that the company signed Anthony, who averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game this past season as a freshman. He later declared himself eligible for the draft on April 24, just 17 days after the Orangemen won their first national championship.

Although Anthony and his representatives said they spoke to adidas and Reebok during a three-week wooing process, they only entered formal negotiations with Nike.

"Nike was the company that he was most comfortable with and I think he could have left some money on the table because of his dedication to them," said Calvin Andrews, Anthony's agent from BDA Sports, which represents seven players in this year's NBA Draft including Anthony, Mississippi State forward Mario Austin, California guard Joe Shipp, Boston College guard Troy Bell, Minnesota forward Rick Rickert, BYU guard Travis Hansen and Yugoslavian forward Zarko Cabarkapa.

"It wasn't just about the money."

Andrews declined to give contract specifics, but one source said the deal approaches the annual sum Nike pays to Phoenix Suns guard Penny Hardaway, who earns about $3.5 million per year. LeBron James, who is projected as the No. 1 pick in the draft, is expected to sign a shoe deal in the next couple days that could be worth more than $10 million per year. But if James does not sign with Nike, it is believed the company's deal with Anthony will be the largest deal they have ever awarded a rookie. Anthony's deal easily tops the contract awarded to Jason Williams during his rookie season – it was worth about $1 million per year.

"I'm glad I got this deal done, and since I'm going to be one of the top picks, I'm also glad I went with the No. 1 one shoe company," Anthony said.

At the end of 2002, Nike covered about 39 percent of the U.S. athletic footwear business. Reebok was a distant second at 12 percent, and adidas had 9.6 percent.

It is not known if Anthony will be a Nike or Brand Jordan player. The decision has yet to be made, but Andrews said Anthony will be consulted before it is done. It is also not clear if Anthony will have his own signature shoe, though Nike does have the option to make one if they wish to do so.

Andrews said Anthony's trademark will continue to be the headband, most likely with a Nike logo on it. "He's decided that unless he's dressed up in a suit or something, he's wearing that headband."

Nike's endorser roster includes Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd, Seattle SuperSonics guard Ray Allen and Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Payton.

The company also is expected to soon announce a deal with the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, once a penalty clause expires in June for Bryant's existing deal with adidas. Other high-profile NBA free agents in the shoe market include Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, whose deal with Nike expires at the end of the season, and the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett, who is expected to switch from AND 1 to adidas.

Darren Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com, can be reached at darren.rovell@espn3.com.