UNC basketball was Jay Williams’ favorite program as a child, and it sounds like a bit of the Duke gem’s fandom remains.
Former Duke basketball national champion Jay Williams, now a veteran ESPN commentator, wasn’t friendly to the UNC basketball program when he was a rival player. No, the legendary Blue Devil guard (1999-02) posted a 7-1 record against the Tar Heels.
But he was a UNC fan growing up, which he noted on social media when congratulating Roy Williams on his career after the Tar Heel great announced his retirement in April 2021.
And during ESPN’s broadcast of Kansas’ 90-66 victory at Oklahoma State on Tuesday night, Williams took it one step further by naming UNC his hypothetical top transfer destination if he was in college now.
Then, this past weekend, Jay Williams expressed praise for the job Hubert Davis is doing with what he described as a major title candidate.
Here’s the exchange (video below) between himself and play-by-play announcer Jon Sciambi that led to his reluctant admission:
Sciambi, on the other hand: “If the transfer portal was open, where would you have gone?”
Williams: “Setting me up.” So, back then, I would have travelled to Georgetown. I’d have played for John Thompson. If you’re asking me today, wow…this is a tough one, because I’m not sure if I’ll be permitted to return home.”
Sciambi: “Are you about to say North Carolina?”
Williams: “I just like the way they play. It’s a fast-paced style of play. I like it. They allow RJ Davis to go.”
Sciambi: “Holy cow!”
Williams: “What? What? You did this to me. This is your fault.”
Sciambi: “This is simply bad announcing. Jon Sciambi banished Jay Williams from the Duke family on Tuesday night.”
Williams: “You know, I recently got back into ‘The Brotherhood.’ I just got back. And now I have a feeling I’ll be out.”
Perhaps he wants to become an honorary UNC basketball family member. Nah.
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