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Billy Reinhardt: Source: RJ Davis, former UNC star, has agreed to a contract with the Lakers.
Dave McMenamin: The Lakers signed former UNC guard RJ Davis to an Exhibit 10 deal, sources told ESPN.
Sarah Todd: The Jazz’s workout group today: Max Shulga (VCU), Nique Clifford (Colorado State), Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton), Drake Powell (UNC), Steven Crowl (Wisconsin), Chaz Lanier (Tennessee).
Jeff Borzello: UNC's Drake Powell, who tested as arguably the best athlete at the Combine, said he's staying in the NBA draft. "All-in on the draft. Door's closed." "Hubert Davis has been very supportive during this process. I've known him for a long time ... and he's just happy for me."
All of this context currently surrounds North Carolina, where the Tar Heels are mired in a season of mediocrity while advancing through a GM search, sources told The Stein Line. In football, of course, North Carolina just made an almighty splash by hiring Bill Belichick as its head coach with GM Mike Lombardi in tow. Now NBA names, not surprisingly, have been connected to the basketball gig. UNC is a school known to value its alumni, spawning the expectation that the Tar Heels will ultimately hire a general manager who bleeds the school's powder blue blood. Mitch Kupchak, most recently the Charlotte Hornets' lead executive and once ACC Player of the Year as a Tar Heel, is known to be advising the process.
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McGrady went straight from high school to the NBA, being drafted ninth in the 1997 draft by the Raptors. The following season, Carter declared for the draft after three years at UNC. McGrady mentioned his older cousin to then-Raptors coach Butch Carter. "I told him, 'We got to draft him, man. We got to draft. I mean, I was 18 years old, in a foreign country, and if y'all trying to make me the future of this franchise, I need some input and I want somebody to go with me that I feel comfortable with. Plus, he's the most talented cat in this draft. Put us together." The Raptors obliged, and NBA history was born. "It was just such a joy," McGrady said. "Unbelievable. To have him as a teammate and finding out we was cousins at the same time. Then to watch someone become a star right before your eyes and take the league by storm at such a young age. "He came in his rookie year and he was doing some s--- that we never seen before. And what I tell you, I was like the biggest Vince Carter fan."
The Tar Heels have one of the most distinctive jerseys in college basketball, but had there been a players-only vote in the early ’90s, Carolina blue might have been presented a lot differently. “We were trying to get black uniforms,” said longtime NBA forward George Lynch, who also was a standout on that 1991-92 team. “They wouldn’t do black for us.” Lynch said at the time, he wasn’t familiar with Julian or the designing process. The team knew it would have new uniforms, but players weren’t sure how they’d look. New uniforms could have meant something as simple as subtle changes to the lettering or numbers.
Eric Montross (1971-2023)
Eric Montross, a former North Carolina basketball star who helped lead the Tar Heels to a national championship in 1993 and played eight seasons in the NBA, died Sunday after a battle with cancer, his family announced. He was 52. Montross, who was a color commentator on the Tar Heels’ radio broadcasts, was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in March. He had been undergoing treatment at the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center.
Cecil was a former basketball player. As a sophomore, he played alongside legendary figures James Worthy and Michael Jordan, contributing to the Tar Heels' NCAA championship victory in 1982. In the 1984 NBA Draft, Cecil Exum was chosen by the Denver Nuggets as the 194th overall pick in the ninth round.
Michael DeCourcy: The @UNC_Basketball program revealed today Tar Heels radio analyst Eric Montross, a hero of the program's 1993 NCAA championship team, has been diagnosed with cancer and is beginning treatment. Eric is a heck of a guy. Please send prayers or positive thoughts on speedy recovery.
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If Michael Jordan memorabilia from his time in Chicago doesn't excite you, then check this out -- a ticket stub from his first-ever game as a UNC Tar Heel has just hit the auction block ... and, it's believed to be the only one in existence! The extremely rare piece is from the November 1981 UNC vs. Kansas game -- which was Jordan's debut on Dean Smith's Tar Heels hoops team.
In particular, Barrett noticed Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski’s stoic demeanor in congratulating UNC coach Hubert Davis and the rest of the Tar Heels after his final game, losing in the national semifinals in a 81-77 heartbreaker in New Orleans. “Man, that game was up, down and crazy,’’ Barrett said. “Tough for them to lose. I admire the way Coach K walked off the court. He always says ‘strong faces.’ He walked off like a champion. He’s the greatest ever to do it. It was his last time on the court and I’m just thankful I was able to be a part of that Duke history.’’
A photo of the former UNC basketball players who attended the wedding is a who's who of Carolina hoops royalty. The list includes Harrison Barnes, Tyler Hansbrough, Bryon Sanders, Sean May, Deon Thompson, Danny Green, Raymond Felton, Quentin Thomas, and Jackie Manuel. Longtime UNC staffer Eric Hoots also attended.
Chase Hughes: UNC guard Cole Anthony has worked out for the Wizards. Also, the Heat and Magic. He said he thought the Wizards workout went "really, really well."
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