Former Duke basketball star Jay Williams raised eyebrows Tuesday night when he told Jon Sciambi that he’d transfer to rival North Carolina if he was currently playing college basketball. The two were calling Kansas’ win over Oklahoma State, and Sciambi asked the Duke basketball legend “If the transfer portal were open, where would you have gone?”
“Back then, I would have gone to Georgetown, and I would have played for John Thompson,” Williams stated. “If you are inquiring today…” This one is difficult. I’m not sure if I’ll be permitted to return home. Simply put, I enjoy how [UNC] plays. It is a brisk kind of play. It appeals to me. They permit RJ Davis to leave. I feel like I’m going to leave The Brotherhood now that I’ve returned.”
Williams has given Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels a lot of praise this season. He claimed last week that UNC had a team capable of winning a title.
This wasn’t the first time Williams praised Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels this season. Last week, he said UNC had a championship-caliber team.
“It’s clear that there was a problem with Caleb Love last year,” Williams stated on The David Glenn Show. You can see that this is RJ Davis and Armando Bacot’s team when he is off the court. They have also been returning to defence and rebounding. That is a squad capable of winning a championship.”
Williams was a star player at Duke from 1999 to 2002. In addition to winning NABC Player of the Year honours in 2001 and 2002, he assisted the Blue Devils in their 2001 national championship run. Williams disclosed during his collegiate career that he was a lifelong supporter of UNC and thought the Tar Heels would win the high school championship until they signed Ronald Curry the year before he did.
Williams remarked in 2002, “I used to cheer for UNC when I was younger. “I talked to them but just decided not to go there.”
Recruitment guru Bob Gibbons described Williams’ hiring process under Bill Guthridge.
“Like Dean Smith’s programme always did, they were always very honest that they never wanted to over-recruit or mislead players,” Gibbons stated. “They declared, ‘We anticipate that Ronald Curry will be our point guard. You will be mostly a two-guard if you come here. Jay was put off by that because he saw himself as a point guard.”
This week, UNC rose to the fourth spot in the AP Poll, its highest ranking since the 2018–19 season in January or later. This season’s Tar Heels comeback has been largely attributed to their renowned class of transfers.
“Our group is naturally cohesive,” Ryan remarked. That speaks highly of Coach Davis and his use of the transfer portal and high school recruiting techniques. Both on and off the court, we enjoy spending time together. We’re going out together if we’re going to eat. That is not common. That’s one of our main advantages. That simply translates to the legal system. No direct correlation exists. A true chemistry exists. Excellent conversation.”
A few days after spending more time in Chapel Hill, four-star offensive tackle Alex Payne declared his commitment to North Carolina on Wednesday.
Payne explained, “It’s just my relationship with the coaches,” following his most recent visit. “Talking with them and spending time with them has been really wonderful. I was really fond of it.
Payne, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound athlete from Gainesville (Ga.) High, received scholarship offers from Wake Forest, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Penn State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Boston College in addition to UNC.
Payne visited UNC on Saturday along with a number of family members. He had visited the school three times before.
“The excitement in the crowd at Saturday’s basketball game is nothing new; it was the same during the football game. Everyone is merely thrilled to be there and is encouraging one another. The ambiance is simply unbelievable.”
Payne initially camped at UNC in early June where the Tar Heels became one of the first programmes to offer.
Leading UNC’s pursuit was Randy Clements, who specifically offered Payne. Clements has spent a year coaching the offensive line for the Tar Heels.
Payne returned to Chapel Hill in October to witness UNC’s nationally televised victory over Miami.
After that visit, Payne said of UNC, “My parents and I have been looking at North Carolina for a while.” “Since our visit to the camp, we have been investigating their offerings and other resources that may be relevant to my criminal justice major. Additionally, I think I’d fit in well there given their programme and coaches.”
Payne attended games at Wake Forest, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Clemson, and Duke last season.
Payne joins UNC as its fifth and highest-rated 2025 commitment, as per the 247Sports Composite. He is ranked No. 28 in Georgia and No. 239 nationally. In addition, he is the nation’s No. 22 offensive tackle.
Four-star quarterback Bryce Baker, high-three-star interior offensive lineman Trey Blue, mid-three-star tight end Logan Farrell, and mid-three-star edge rusher Kamden Laudenslager were already on UNC’s commitment list.
Gainsville High finished the 2023 season with a 12-1 record, and Payne has started at left tackle since his sophomore year. The only setback for the Red Elephants, a 20-17 loss to Atlanta Woodward Academy, came
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