Category Archives: Featured stories

Harrison Barnes: UNC alumni game swung his thoughts to Carolina

Duke was quietly confident it would sign Harrison Barnes. North Carolina didn’t come on until late, but once it did, the Heels made a huge impression. Barnes, now a UNC freshman, had a long one-on-one interview with Dan Wiederer of the Fayetteville Observer that was published this week, and in it, he told Wiederer that a trip to the Smith Center for the UNC alumni game changed his perception.

“I’ve never seen or felt anything like it,” Barnes said. “Not only to walk in as a recruit and see all the guys here, all the coaches, but to see how Carolina basketball came to be. Seeing Dean Smith talk to Roy Williams, that was the man he learned everything from. To see the 2005 championship team, to see the ’09 championship team. To have Michael Jordan come back. Vince Carter. Antawn Jamison. Rasheed Wallace. All of those guys are back.

“All of a sudden Carolina basketball and all of the history and legends that they talk about? It’s all literally right in front of you. I wouldn’t say it was an out-of-body experience. But there was definitely something surreal about that. It was like a live and in-person history lesson. The history of the program was playing right in front of me. …

For any recruit that was there, I don’t know how you could say no after that. For me, it seemed like Carolina was the place to go.”

Duke had recruited Barnes hard, and he was close to Mike Krzyzewski and the staff. His final decision was closely guarded, and many were shocked when he went on Skype and told UNC he was headed to Chapel Hill.

Wiederer asked Barnes if he spoke with Duke after that announcement.

“We went our separate ways after that,” he said.

Lowe blames Leslie’s suspension on ‘youth,’ says Leslie will play Sunday at Wake Forest

N.C. State doesn’t have a game until Sunday at Wake Forest, and perhaps it comes at a good time for the Wolfpack. Tracy Smith’s knee is ailing – again – and State is also looking to get freshman C.J. Leslie back on course after he was suspended from Saturday’s loss at Duke for violating team rules.

Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe said Monday that he expects Leslie to practice Tuesday and play Sunday.

As for the suspension, Lowe said, “I characterize that just as youth, just not understanding the importance of things, little things. …

“It’s just youth. It’s just growth and maturity and understanding  there is structure, there is discipline, and it has to be done.”

Lowe also made a pointed remark about the club circuit and its impact on the elite players. Lowe suggested that some of the behavior seen at the college level has its roots in club basketball.

“Unfortunately sometimes kids today – and I hate to talk about the AAU circuit – but there is not a lot of structure and discipline there. And then we get the kid and we have to show them that.”

Wake’s Desrosiers coming on, giving Deacons hope for the future

This has felt like a lost season for Wake Forest, with one ACC win  and a new coaching learning the league and his personnel. But there may be more hope for the Deacons longterm than one believes.

The Deacons lost 91-70 at Maryland Saturday, dropping them to 8-15 overall. But the Deacons started two freshmen and two sophomores, and one of those freshman, center Carson Desrosiers, is starting to show potential. Desrosiers is a slender 7-footer but he is a decent shooter and should improve rapidly.

He scored 11 points and had five rebounds against the Terps. Those are hardly All-ACC numbers, and he is averaging only 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds for the season. Tall players take time to mature, though, and Desrosiers may be a center Wake can build around.

“In a quiet way Carson is slowly becoming one of the the elite freshmen in this league,” Wake coach Jeff Bzdelik said Monday. “Down the road as he acquires the necessary strength to finish around the rim and be able to hold and contest his position around the rim, he will develop into one of the elite big men in the ACC in the future.”

Elite? That’s a strong word, and Bzdelik used it later in the ACC teleconference when referring to freshman point guard Tony Chennault. But the idea that Wake could have high-level players at those two critical positions is important.

Desrosiers, the first native of New Hampshire to play at Wake, had already committed to the Deacons before Bzdelik was hired.

“He could have reneged and gone somewhere else. But a the same time whwne we met, it took him abut 10 mintues to say coach, ‘I’m in.”

“I’m sure glad he did. He’s a cornerstone of our program.”

UNC’s Marshall now making opponents sick

Kendall Marshall said he threw up at halftime of North Carolina’s 89-69 win over Florida State. If his first game without Larry Drew II sharing time is any indication, he’s going to be making a lot of opponents and their fans throw up.

Marshall dished out 16 assists, two shy of the all-time Carolina record held by Raymond Felton and breaking the record for a game against an ACC opponent.

He made some spectacular passes including a nifty driving underhand job to Tyler Zeller who dunked it and a long upcourt fastbreak assist to John Henson who dunked it.

Carolina might want to get a bodyguard for Marshall, who saw his minutes go from about 20 a game to 36 against Florida State. Without Drew, he’ll have to stay healthy for the Heels to have a chance at an ACC title and a long run in the NCAA tournament.

UNC coach Roy Williams said he’d like to get Marshall’s minutes down a bit but backup Dexter Strickland, a shooting guard, hasn’t had time to get up to speed at the point.

Williams said Marshall not only is smart but he has a good feel for the game and has good court vision. He can also score when he needs to. He drained a pair of threes against the Seminoles.

The team’s shooting percentage should improve as Marshall gets the ball inside for dunks. Carolina will miss Drew’s defense but there may be better chemistry now with Marshall playing more minutes.

Maybe the amount of playing time as much as his nerves led to Marshall throwing up. But it was Florida State that felt sick after this game.

For more on the Florida State game itself, please click here.

Larry Drew’s leaving Carolina continues Calif. exodus from Chapel Hill

The stunning decision by North Carolina guard Larry Drew to leave Chapel Hill in the middle of the semester continues a trend in which recruits from the state of California have not remained in Chapel Hill.

Under Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge, the Tar Heels rarely went to California for players. Center Scott Williams was one of the few from that state to play in Chapel Hill. But Roy Williams had established deep connections to California in his time at Kansas, and he continued to recruit that state, with success, at UNC.

But the shocking news that Drew is leaving marks the fourth time a California product has left Chapel Hill early under Williams. Alex Stepheson transferred to Southern Cal after playing the 2007 and 2008 seasons in Chapel Hill.

Last season, David and Travis Wear surprised Williams after the season when their father told him after the season they were transferring. They eventually picked UCLA.

Drew continued that trend Friday, and in a manner similarly surprising. Williams, in a news release, said Drew’s father told him the son would leave. (You’d think the players, in the cases of both the Wears and Drew, would have had the nerve to tell the coach themselves).

Regardless, it’s a stunning development for a team that appeared to be hitting its stride with that win at Boston College.

Carolina never seemed to play to its potential with Drew at point guard, and UNC fans heaped criticism on him for last season’s failures. Fair or not, it was clear Carolina had renewed fire when Kendall Marshall took over at point. Marshall is a deft passer and his teammates just exude more joy and confidence with him on the floor.

Drew had appeared to take the demotion gracefully. He played 19 minutes in the impressive win at Boston College Tuesday. He didn’t score a point but had nine assists. From the outside, he certainly appeared ready to share the ball and put winning first.

With Drew gone, that knocks a hole in Carolina’s depth, but not one that is unsurmountable. It solidifies Marshall’s job at point guard and means Reggie Bullock will get more minutes. Not a bad thing but still, a stunning development in Chapel Hill, where players rarely voice public displeasure over playing time.

With Wilson gone, look for Wolfpack to build around Mustafa Greene in 2011

N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien doesn’t expect Russell Wilson back, he said Wednesday, which means the Wolfpack will have a different look as it heads into spring practice and the 2011 season. The loss of Wilson to baseball obviously means Mike Glennon moves into the starting quarterback job, but the real change here may be the heightened importance of Mustafa Greene.

This past year, the Wolfpack’s first official depth chart included unheralded Dean Haynes as the starting tailback. That said a great deal about State’s personnel at running back, since the coaches switched a DB over to offense and he wound up being anointed the starter. But it also said a great deal about the emphasis on offense. If you were planning on building your offense around Wilson, then you could live with less of a running game. What you needed was someone who could catch and block and wouldn’t fumble.

State’s offense won’t have Wilson at the wheel this season – or at least, State isn’t planning on it. Glennon has height and talent, but the Wolfpack is likely to have a more conventional attack than what it had under Wilson. The hunch here is State will look to build more of a running game into its offense, and that means more emphasis on Greene.

Greene showed star potential in 2010. It’s asking a great deal of a true freshman to understand blocking schemes and route-running in addition to carrying the football, and that’s one reason why Greene wasn’t on the field all the time. But this fall could be different. He led N.C. State with 134 carries for 618 yards and four scores while averaging 45.9 yards per game.  Significantly, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry, which is a pretty stout number for a freshman.

Wilson averaged 33.5 yards per game rushing, but you won’t see that from Glennon. Wolfpack coaches love to credit Glennon with being more mobile than you’d expect, but still, he won’t be weaving through defenses like Wilson did. We expect Greene to emerge as a critical part of the Wolfpack offense, and potentially as a good a runner as State has had since Ted Brown. This wasn’t stated Wednesday, but keep in mind that N.C. State built its offense around Wilson long before outside observers realized how good Wilson was going to be.

The hunch here is Wolfpack coaches believe they have a star in the making in Greene, and he’ll be a major part of the Wolfpack offense in 2011.

Heels land strong football class, especially after a tough year

Given all that happened in 2010 to North Carolina’s football program, you have to hand it to the Tar Heels for landing an impressive class. This group is particularly strong on the defensive side, especially after five-star defensive end Delvon Simmons of McKeesport, Pa., announced for Carolina Wednesday.

The Tar Heels got two five-stars – Simmons and offensive lineman Kiaro Holts of Indiana – and five more players who earned four stars, according to Scout.com. Overall, the Tar Heels continue to pile up top linebackers and defensive linemen. It’s interesting to note that what had been a weakness in the program – linebacker – under John Bunting has quickly become a signature part of the Carolina defense.

UNC moved to add depth to the running back position when it took junior college star Stephen Houston late. The Heels offered him late, according to reports, and he jumped at the opportunity. But it’s important to note that schools usually go the JuCo route when they can’t land their top targets at a position.

2011 North Carolina Signees

Name                                            Pos.        Ht.         Wt.       Hometown (High School)

Tyler Alberts                           ATH       6-7        235       Clemmons, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day)

Devonte Brown                      DL            6-4        275       Fayetteville (Jack Britt)

Alex Dixon                                  DB           6-1        180       Clearwater, Fla. (Countryside)

Eric Ebron                                  TE            6-5        225       Greensboro, N.C. (Smith)

Brandon Ellerbe                     DB           6-0        200       Wadesboro, N.C. (Anson)

Kiaro Holts                                OL            6-5        275       Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central)

Stephen Houston                   FB            5-11     230       Little Rock, Ark. (Lakota West (Ohio)/

Independence (Kan.) CC)

Travis Hughes                         LB            6-2        225       Virginia Beach, Va. (Kempsville)

Kameron Jackson                  DB           6-0        180       Madison, Ala. (Madison Academy)

Jarrod James                             OL            6-4        285       Goldsboro,N.C. (Aycock)

Romar Morris                         ATH       5-10     185       Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)

Norkeithus Otis                      LB            6-2        215       Gastonia, N.C. (Ashbrook)

Darien Rankin                          DB           5-11     185       Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)

*Travis Riley                            RB           6-1        215       Kannapolis, N.C. (A.L. Brown)

Tim Scott                                    DB           6-0        180       Fredericksburg, Va. (Colonial Forge)

Delvon Simmons                    DL            6-5        265       McKeesport, Pa. (McKeesport)

Sam Smiley                                 DB           6-0        175       Jacksonville, Fla. (Raines)

Miller Snyder                           P/PK      6-2        185       Charlotte, N.C. (Myers Park)

Jack Tabb                                    TE            6-4        250       Red Bank, N.J. (Red Bank Catholic)

*T.J. Thorpe                               WR          6-0        180       Durham, N.C. (Jordan)

*Landon Turner                     OL            6-4        310       Harrisonburg, Va. (Harrisonburg)

Shawn Underwood              DT           6-2        295       Fuquay-Varina, N.C. (Fuquay-Varina)

Keeon Virgile                            LB            6-2        210       North Miami Beach, Fla.

(North Miami Beach)

*Marquise Williams             QB           6-2        215       Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)

*Sylvester Williams             DT           6-3        315       Jefferson City, Mo.

(Jefferson City/Coffeyville (Kan.) CC)

*Enrolled at North Carolina in January, 2011

Tyler Alberts

Athlete, 6-7, 235

Clemmons, N.C. (Forsyth Country Day)

Ranked the No. 27 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Also played tight end • Considered the No. 36 defensive end in the country by ESPNU • Has only played one season of high school football • Finished his senior season with 32 receptions for 495 yards and seven touchdowns • Also had 47 tackles, including 15 sacks, two pass breakups and a blocked field goal • Was named to the All-Central Piedmont Football Conference and the NCISAA All-State teams, and was selected to theprivate school Shrine Bowl • An outstanding baseball and basketball player • Coached by Mark Moroz • Son of Brad and Ann Alberts • Born March 27, 1992.

Devonte Brown

Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 275

Fayetteville, N.C., (Jack Britt)

SuperPrep All-America • Member of the Associated Press North Carolina All-State Team • Member of Tom Lemming’s All-America Team • Considered the No. 19 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 9 overall prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Member of the Rivals250 team • ESPNU’s No. 33 defensive tackle prospect • Ranked the No. 58 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com • Considered the No. 40 defensive linemen in the nation by SuperPrep • Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Honorable-mention member of the Orlando Sentinel’s All-Southern Team • Posted 65 tackles as a senior as his team advanced to the second round of the highschool playoffs • Also had 14 tackles for losses and five sacks • Helped Jack Britt reach the state 4-AA finals as a junior when he made 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack • Originally from Queens, N.Y. • Coached by Richard Bailey • Son of Adrienne Brown • Born Jan. 5, 1993.

Alex Dixon

Defensive Back, 6-1, 180

Clearwater, Fla. (Countryside)

SuperPrep All-America • Considered the No. 29 safety in the country by Rivals.com • ESPNU’s 31st-best cornerback • Rated the No. 29 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep • Helped lead Countryside to the third round of the 5-A playoffs • Earnedsecond team all-area honors as a senior • Intercepted five passes in 2009 • Ranked the No. 53 cornerback in the country by Scout.com • Considered the No. 35 defensive back in the nation by SuperPrep • Coached by Jared Davis • Son of Deonne Dixon • Born Oct. 25, 1992.


Eric Ebron

Tight End, 6-5, 225

Greensboro, N.C. (Smith)

SuperPrep All-America • Considered the No. 8 tight end in the nation by ESPNU • Ranked the No. 20 tight end in the country by Scout.com • Considered the No. 21 tight end in the country and the No. 17 overall prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Rated the No. 13 athlete in the nation by SuperPrep • Member of the Associated Press North Carolina All-State Team as a senior • Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Played wide receiver for the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team • Made 28 catches for 682 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior • Also played defensive end and made 68 tackles and 13.5 sacks • Caught 24 passes for 408 yards (17-yard average) and four touchdowns as a junior • Coached by Rodney Brewington • Son of Eric Ebron Sr. and Gina Jackson • Born April 10, 1993.

Brandon Ellerbe

Defensive Back, 6-0, 200

Wadesboro, N.C. (Anson)

Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Picked off a pass in the all-star game and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown • Ranked the No. 26 prospect in North Carolina by SuperPrep • Considered the No. 37 safety prospect in the nation by ESPNU • Ranked the No. 69 safety in the country by Scout.com • Played quarterback as a senior and rushed for 1,000 yards, threw for 1,400 yards and accounted for 22 total touchdowns as a senior • Also intercepted four passes on defense and posted 41 tackles and nine pass breakups • Coached by Luke Hyatt • Son of Chris Ellerbe and Crystal McLendon • Born Dec. 18, 1992.

Kiaro Holts

Offensive Lineman, 6-5, 275

Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central)

Under-Armour All-America • SuperPrep All-America • Second-team USA Today High School All-America • Member of Tom Lemming’s All-America Team • SuperPrep’s No. 8 offensive lineman in the country and its top overall prospect in Indiana • Member of the Rivals250 team • Ranked the No. 17 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 2 overall prospect in Indiana by Rivals.com • Considered the No. 18 prospect in the countryregardless of position by Scout.com • Ranked the No. 3 offensive tackle in the country by Scout.com • Member of the ESPNU 150 and the Scout 300 • Considered the No. 8 offensive guard in the nation by ESPNU • One of 45 high school seniors to participate in the Team USA vs. The World football game in Austin, Texas, Feb. 2 • Did not allow a sack as a senior • Explosive coming off the ball • Has good feet and moves well • Can play either tackle or guard • Coached by John Hart • Son of Robert Holts • Born Jan. 25, 1991.

Stephen Houston

Fullback, 5-11, 230

Little Rock, Ark. (Lakota West HS (Ohio)/Independence (Kan.) CC)

Junior college running back who redshirted at Independence CC and has three years of eligibility remaining • In his only season at Independence, he rushed for 1,082 yards and five touchdowns on 165 carries • Played his junior year in Arkansas and transferred to Lakota West High School in Ohio for his senior season • Had 887 yards rushing with 11 TDs as a senior • Also an outstanding hurdler • Coached by Steve Carson at Independence • Son of Ronnie Deloney • Born Oct. 28, 1991.

Travis Hughes

Linebacker, 6-2, 225

Virginia Beach, Va. (Kempsville)

Under-Armour All-America • SuperPrep All-America • Ranked the No. 5 middle linebacker in the country by Scout.com • Member of the Rivals250 team • Rated the No. 9 inside linebacker and the No. 4 overall prospect in Virginia by Rivals.com • Four-star prospect by Scout and Rivals • Ranked the No. 8 linebacker by SuperPrep • Considered the No. 6 inside linebacker prospect by ESPNU and a member of the ESPNU 150 • Considered the No. 3 overall prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep • Member of the Orlando Sentinel’s All-Southern Team • Member of Tom Lemming’s All-America Team • Won the skills contest at the Under Armour All-America Game and tied for team-high honors in tackles • Selected to the Chesapeake Bowl, the Offense/Defense All-Star game and the Virginia State All-Star Game • First-team all-region and first-team all-state • Also first-team at linebacker and running back in the Beach district • Three-time All-Beach selection • Played this summer in the Florida Gridiron Iron Kings All-Star Bash • Played both running back and linebacker at Kempsville • Posted 291 career tackles, including 25 tackles for losses and 20 sacks • Also had three interceptions and returned two for touchdowns, had eight pass breakups and 11 fumble recoveries • Carried 185 times for 1,227 yards and 20 touchdowns and was a first-team all-district pick as a senior • Set a Beach District record with 354 yards and sixtouchdowns on 24 carries in his final high school football game • All-Tidewater first-team selection • Rushed for 1,230 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior and had 58 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two interceptions • Rushed for 3,804 career yards and had 47 touchdowns • Also had 18 catches for 156 yards and three touchdowns • Four-year starter • His brother, Trenton, is a defensive back at Maryland • Also competes on the track team in the 100m, 200m and sprint relay teams • Coached by Jamaine Paddyfoot • Helped conduct youth football camps during the summer • Mother is Gwedolyn Hughes; Father and stepmom are Tony and Celia Hughes • Has a brother, Trenton, and sisters Joi and Jade •  Father and grandfather were high school track and field athletes • Father also competed in track and field in college • Born Feb. 15, 1992.

Kameron Jackson

Defensive Back, 6-0, 180

Madison, Ala. (Madison Academy)

Ranked the No. 37 prospect in Alabama by Rivals.com • Caught 37 passes for 900 yards and four touchdowns as a junior and intercepted three passes • Originally from Wilmington, N.C. • Injured his knee as a high school senior • Coached by Eric Cohu • Son of Rodney and Tracey Jackson • Born July 2, 1993.

Jarrod James

Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 285

Goldsboro, N.C. (Aycock)

SuperPrep All-America • Member of the Rivals250 team • Ranked the No. 8 offensive guard and the No. 7 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Considered the No. 22 offensive guard in the country by ESPNU • Ranked the No. 28 offensive guard in the country by Scout.com • Ranked the No. 35 offensive linemen in the country by SuperPrep • Member of Tom Lemming’s All-America Team • Three-year starter • Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Coached by Randy Pinkowski • Son of Elvin and Mary Kay James • His father, Elvin, is the head coach at Livingstone, a Division II school in Salisbury • Born Jan. 22, 1993.

Romar Morris

Athlete, 5-10, 185

Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)

Considered the No. 26 running back in the country by ESPNU • Ranked the No. 12 all-purpose running back and the No. 23 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Member of the Orlando Sentinel’s All-Southern Team • Ranked the No. 59 running back in the country by Scout.com • Rated the No. 1 running back in North Carolina and the No 19 overall prospect in the state by SuperPrep • Rushed for 1,780 yards and 30 touchdowns and had 20 catches for 258 yards as a senior • Rushed for 97 yards and scored a touchdown to earn MVP honors of the state 2-A championship game, which Salisbury won • Also named the conference player of the year • Carried 161 times for 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior • Also had 11 receptions for 269 yards and four more scores • Outstanding track athlete who has run a 10.54 100-meter and 21.47 200-meter • Wonback-to-back state 2-A titles in the 100 and 200m dashes • Coached by Joe Pinyan • Son of Roland and Martha Morris • Born Oct. 21, 1992.

Norkeithus Otis

Linebacker, 6-2, 215

Gastonia, N.C. (Ashbrook)

SuperPrep All-America • Member of the Rivals250 team • Considered the No. 9 weakside defensive end in the country and the No. 8 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Ranked the No. 16 outside linebacker in the country by ESPNU •Ranked the 23 outside linebacker in the country by Scout.com • Member of the Scout 300 • Rated the No. 16 linebacker in the country by SuperPrep • Made 78 tackles, 10 tackles for losses and 6.5 sacks primarily at defensive end as a senior • Recorded 109 tackles, 10 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a junior and was named the conference defensive player of the year • Registered 72 tackles, six sacks and one fumble recovery as a sophomore • Coached by Greg Hill • Guardians are Africa and Eric Otis • Born Aug. 26, 1992.

Darien Rankin

Defensive Back, 5-11, 185

Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury)

Ranked the No. 28 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Considered the No. 87 safety prospect in the nation by ESPNU • Ranked the No. 108 safety in the country by Scout.com • All-state selection as a senior • Member of the Charlotte Observer’s first-team defense • Helped lead Salisbury to the state 2-A title with 10 tackles and a pass breakup in win •  Named defensive MVP of the state title game • Three sport standout in football, basketball and track • Coached by Joe Pinyan • Son of Kenneth and Bianca Gillispie • Born Dec. 12, 1991.

Travis Riley

Running Back, 6-1, 215

Kannapolis, N.C. (A.L. Brown)

Enrolled at North Carolina in January, 2011, after graduating early from A.L. Brown High School • Considered the No. 16 running back by ESPNU • Ranked the No. 98 running back in the country by Scout.com • Ranked the No. 5 fullback by Rivals.com • Considered the No. 26 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Rated the No. 3 running back in North Carolina and the No. 32 in the state by SuperPrep • Rushed for 1,924 yards and 32 touchdowns as a junior and was named the AreaPlayer of the Year • Coached by Ron Massey • Son of Tiffany Flynn and Mario Douglas • Born Jan. 27, 1993.

Tim Scott

Defensive Back, 6-0, 180

Fredericksburg, Va. (Colonial Forge)

Considered the 18th-best safety prospect in the nation by ESPNU • Ranked the No. 34 cornerback in the country by Scout.com • Rated the No. 38 cornerback in the nation and the No. 12 prospect in Virginia by Rivals.com • Ranked the No. 14 prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep • Earned Commonwealth District defensive player of the year honors and was first-team All-Fredericksburg as a senior • Namedall-district as a defensive back, wide receiver and kick returner • Was also a  second-team All-Washington Metro selection • Four-year starter • Carried 22 times for 173 yards and one touchdown as a junior • Also made 13 receptions for 221 yards and one touchdown • Also plays basketball • Coached by Bill Brown • Born Jan. 25, 1993.

Delvon Simmons

Defensive Lineman, 6-5, 265

McKeesport, Pa. (McKeesport)

Considered the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, the No. 5 defensive tackle and the No. 80 overall prospect by Rivals.com • U.S. Army All-American • SuperPrep All-America • Member of Tom Lemming’s All-America Team • Rated the No. 11 defensive lineman in the country by SuperPrep • Considered the No. 3 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 15 overall prospect by Scout.com • Member of the Scout300 • Led McKeesport in tackles from the defensive tackle position with 57 stops, 11 tackles for losses, and one sack as a senior • Named all-league and all-state on the offensive and defensive line • Coached by Jim Ward • Lives with his aunt, Ella Watkins • Born Nov. 30, 1992.

Sam Smiley

Defensive Back, 6-0, 175

Jacksonville, Fla. (Raines)

Member of the Jacksonville Times-Union Super 24 team • Played quarterback as a senior in high school and led Raines to 9-3 record and a berth in the state playoffs • Threw for 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns and had 16 rushing touchdowns • Missed most of his junior season after tearing a ligament in his foot • Was teammates with current UNC wide receiver Sean Tapley in high school • Also plays basketball • Coached by Duran Wiley • Born Oct. 27, 1992.

Miller Snyder

Place-kicker/Punter, 6-2, 185

Charlotte, N.C. (Myers Park)

Played in the U.S. ArmyAll-America Game • Member of the Associated Press North Carolina All-State Team • Ranked the No. 8 kicker prospect in the nation by ESPNU • Kicked 39 touchbacks on 48 kickoffs as a high school senior in 2010 • Made four of five field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards as a senior • Also averaged 38.2 yards per punt • Earned all-conference honors • Coached by Greg Taylor • Son of John and Molly Snyder • Born Dec. 4, 1992.

Jack Tabb

Tight End, 6-4, 240

Red Bank, N.J. (Red Bank Catholic)

Ranked the No. 11 tight end in the country by ESPNU • Considered the No. 25 tight end by Scout.com • Rated the No. 35 tight end in the country and the No. 17 prospect in New Jersey by Rivalscom • Considered the No. 11 prospect in New Jersey by SuperPrep • Played on both sides of the ball at tight end and linebacker at Red Bank Catholic High School • Posted 21 receptions for 458 yards and five touchdowns as a senior • Played for the North team in the Chesapeake Bowl, a high school all-star game in the Northeast • Caught seven passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns as a junior • Recorded 52 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks in 2009 • Born in Japan and has lived in Tennessee, Hawaii, Korea and Indiana • Moved to New Jersey prior to sophomore year • Coached by Jim Portela • Son of Julie Tabb Carter • Born July 29, 1992.

T.J. Thorpe

Wide Receiver, 6-0, 180

Durham, N.C. (Jordan)

Enrolled at North Carolina in January, 2011, after graduating early from Jordan High School, which is just a few miles from the Chapel Hill campus • SuperPrep All-America • Member of the ESPNU 150 as the No. 88 overall prospect in the country • Considered the No. 11 athlete in the nation by ESPNU • Member of the Rivals250 • Rated the 15th overall wide receiver by Rivals.com and the No. 6 prospect in North Carolina • Rated the No. 21 wide receiver by SuperPrep • Ranked the No. 50 wide receiver in the country by Scout.com • Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Set a state single-season mark as a junior by returning five kickoffs for touchdowns • Established a school career record with 2,423 receiving yards • Coached by Mike Briggs • Son of Tyrone and Carmen Thorpe • Born May 26, 1993.

Landon Turner

Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 310

Harrisonburg, Va. (Harrisonburg)

Enrolled at North Carolina in January, 2011 after graduating early from Harrisonburg High School • SuperPrep All-America • Ranked the No. 91 overall prospect and the No. 5 offensive guard in the country by Scout.com • Member of the Scout 300 • Played in the U.S. Army All-America Game • Member of the Rivals250 • Rated the No. 3 offensive guard in the nation and the No. 106 overall prospect by Rivals.com • Ranked the third-best prospect in Virginia by Rivals.com • Rated the top offensive lineman and the No. 6 overall prospect in Virginia by SuperPrep • Named all-state in back-to-back seasons • Paved the way for Harrisonburg’s running back to rush for more than 5,000 yards over the last two seasons • Helped lead his team to the state finals as a senior • Also played middle linebacker • Coached by Tim Sarver • Son of Dawn Womack and West Turner • Both his father and uncle played football at West Virginia • Born May 15, 1993.


Shawn Underwood

Defensive Tackle, 6-2, 295

Fuquay-Varina, N.C. (Fuquay-Varina)

Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Ranked the No. 33 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com • Considered the No. 51 defensive tackle by ESPNU • Rated the No. 29 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Was a standout player on both sides of the ball • Earned all-league honors as a offensive guard and defensive end as a junior • Named the league’s defensive player of the year as a senior • Coached by Ryan Habich • Son of Terry Underwood • Born March 2, 1992.

Keeon Virgile

Linebacker, 6-2, 210

North Miami Beach, Fla. (North Miami Beach)

Considered one of the top 25 players in Dade County in Florida • Rated one of the top 100 players in Florida by SuperPrep • Made 82 tackles and had 12 sacks as a senior • Posted 89 tackles and 11 sacks as a junior • Rated the No. 139 outside linebacker in the country by Scout.com • Plays at North Miami Beach where former Tar Heel Tommy Richardson serves as athletic director • Advanced to the second round of the state playoffs as a senior • Son of Joan and Walkins Virgile • Born Feb. 9, 1992.

Marquise Williams

Quarterback, 6-2, 215

Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)

Enrolled at North Carolina in January, 2011, after graduating early from Mallard Creek High School • SuperPrep All-America • Parade All-America • Member of Tom Lemming’s All-America Team • The No. 9 dual-threat quarterback in the country by Rivals.com and a member of the Rivals250 • Considered the No. 10 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com • Ranked the No. 16 quarterback in the country by Scout.com • Rated the No. 15quarterback in the country by SuperPrep • Member of North Carolina’s Shrine Bowl team • Member of the Orlando Sentinel’s All-Southern Team • Completed 170 of 254 attempts (67 percent) for 3,034 yards, 45 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a senior • The passing yards rank 19th in Mecklenburg county history and the passing touchdowns is sixth best in county history • Also rushed for 1,147 yards and 19 more scores and was named the Area Offensive Player of the Year and conference offensive player of the year • Threw for 2,100 yards, rushed for 1,400 yards and accounted for 40 total touchdowns in 2009 • Passed for 2,300 yards, rushed for1,000 yards and accounted for 37 touchdowns as a sophomore • Helped guide his team from a 1-win season as a freshman to the playoffs as a junior and senior • Coached by Mike Palmeiri • Son of Bernard Whiteside and Lisa Williams • Born Oct. 5, 1992.

Sylvester Williams

Defensive Tackle, 6-3, 315

Jefferson City, Mo. (Jefferson City/Coffeyville (Kan.) CC)

Enrolled at Carolina inJanuary, 2011, after two seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College • Has two seasons of eligibility remaining, plus a redshirt season if necessary • Considered a four-star prospect by Scout.com • Ranked the No. 12 junior college talent by SI.com • Rated the No. 14 overall junior college prospect by SuperPrep • Recorded 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and five blocked kicks in 2010 and was named all-conference and honorable-mention All-America • Coached by Darian Dulin at Coffeyville Community College • Son of Sylvester Williams Sr. • Born Nov. 21, 1988.

Bullock’s three-pointers change UNC game at BC

The three-point shot can certainly change games in a hurry and it did so during North Carolina’s 106-74 drubbing of Boston College. It looked as if BC might continue its ACC dominance at home after hitting four threes in a row to get out to an 18-13 lead.

But UNC’s Reggie Bullock went unconscious over a three-minute period with four three-pointers. His three from the right corner gave Carolina its first lead at 19-18. About 40 seconds later Bullock hit a three from the left corner and just over a minute later he swished a three from the left side to put the Tar Heels up 29-22.

At the end of the day, Boston College had 13 three-pointers compared to 11 by Carolina. But the time of the game in which the threes were made was big plus BC shot a lot more threes. You live by it and you die by it. Carolina hit 52 percent of its three pointers while BC hit 39 percent.

For more on the Boston College game itself, please click here.

Florida State is back with dominant recruiting class

Back at Operation Basketball in October in Charlotte, a Florida State media relations person made an interesting comment in the hallway. The conversation turned to football, where the Seminoles had once owned the ACC.

“We’re going to be what we used to be,” he said. Really? Asked a Capital Sports reporter. Why?

Jimbo Fisher is just bringing it together, he explained. The coaching staff, the organization, the entire program was falling into place.

On signing day, we’ll see it. North Carolina has a good recruiting class and N.C. State has a perplexing one, but the Seminoles have a great one. Football coaches love to say you can’t truly gauge a class for five years, and there is some truth in that, but the teams that win big on the field tend to win big on signing day. Just look at Alabama – Nick Saban came in and turned the program around with some monster recruiting classes.

Florida State is poised for a tremendous day Wednesday. The Seminoles have 25 commitments and 10 are ranked in the Top 100 by Scout.com. Four are five-star recruits, 10 are four-star recruits and 11 are three-star recruits.

The next closest ACC team is Clemson, at No. 18, followed by UNC at No. 19. As of Tuesday night, Carolina had one five-star recruit and five four-stars. Ratings are just guesses – Russell Wilson was a two-star – but the chance of getting a stud goes up with the number of stars.

One interesting note on Florida State’s class – its only quarterback so far is three-star recruit Jacob Coker of Mobile, Ala.