University of North Carolina Athletics
Maye dunks during the open practice in the Spectrum Center on Thursday afternoon.
Photo by: J.D. Lyon Jr.
GoHeels Exclusive: Maye Loves Charlotte
March 15, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
CHARLOTTE — As North Carolina finished its open practice Thursday afternoon and players dispersed across the Spectrum Center to sign autographs, a majority of the fans navigated toward one corner in particular.
Unsurprisingly, that's where Luke Maye was also heading. And if the Huntersville, N.C., native didn't feel at home already, he certainly did then, with the crowd around him constantly growing.
For the second time during Maye's stellar junior season, the Tar Heels are playing at the Spectrum Center, about 20 miles from his family's home. He recorded 24 points and 17 rebounds in his last visit, an 85-75 win over Davidson on Dec. 1.
This trip, for obvious reasons, means more. UNC begins its national championship defense at 2:45 p.m. Friday, when it faces Lipscomb in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. And the significance of Maye being able to play this game in Charlotte hasn't been lost on his teammates.
"Luke loves Charlotte," Kenny Williams said. "That's the first thing I said to him when I saw we were playing in Charlotte is, 'Alright, Luke, you're going back home.' I think he had 20 and 10 when we played Davidson here, also. He loves playing in Charlotte, I guess."
The Tar Heels arrived in Charlotte on Wednesday. Maye stopped by his home that night and visited his family, at least for a little bit.
"I think I'm definitely a guy who is very much a creature of habit," he said. "I enjoy going down the street and being able to recognize so many things and having such a great kind of feel for the environment.
"Just coming home, I'm just real excited to be able to play in front of a great crowd and have so many fans at the game and be able to do our best to get a win."
Maye is averaging 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds this season. If he maintains those numbers, he'll become just the sixth UNC player to average a double-double in the last 40 years, joining Brice Johnson (2016), John Henson (2011), Tyler Hansbrough (2008), Sean May (2005) and Antawn Jamison (1998).
This time last year, Maye's junior season success might have seemed unlikely to some. But then came his 16-point effort against Butler in the Sweet 16 and his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the regional final.
A summer of endless hours in the gym followed. And after earning first-team All-ACC honors during the regular season, Maye returns to the NCAA Tournament, which begins in a familiar setting.
"His impact goes way beyond the points and the rebounds he puts up," Williams said. "He demands attention now. Even if he has an off night, teams still have to respect him because Luke can go off and make four or five shots in a row and then get hot and be hot for the rest of the game.
"He demands attention, he's at the top of other teams' scouting lists. And that in itself is immeasurable."
CHARLOTTE — As North Carolina finished its open practice Thursday afternoon and players dispersed across the Spectrum Center to sign autographs, a majority of the fans navigated toward one corner in particular.
Unsurprisingly, that's where Luke Maye was also heading. And if the Huntersville, N.C., native didn't feel at home already, he certainly did then, with the crowd around him constantly growing.
For the second time during Maye's stellar junior season, the Tar Heels are playing at the Spectrum Center, about 20 miles from his family's home. He recorded 24 points and 17 rebounds in his last visit, an 85-75 win over Davidson on Dec. 1.
This trip, for obvious reasons, means more. UNC begins its national championship defense at 2:45 p.m. Friday, when it faces Lipscomb in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. And the significance of Maye being able to play this game in Charlotte hasn't been lost on his teammates.
"Luke loves Charlotte," Kenny Williams said. "That's the first thing I said to him when I saw we were playing in Charlotte is, 'Alright, Luke, you're going back home.' I think he had 20 and 10 when we played Davidson here, also. He loves playing in Charlotte, I guess."
The Tar Heels arrived in Charlotte on Wednesday. Maye stopped by his home that night and visited his family, at least for a little bit.
"I think I'm definitely a guy who is very much a creature of habit," he said. "I enjoy going down the street and being able to recognize so many things and having such a great kind of feel for the environment.
"Just coming home, I'm just real excited to be able to play in front of a great crowd and have so many fans at the game and be able to do our best to get a win."
Maye is averaging 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds this season. If he maintains those numbers, he'll become just the sixth UNC player to average a double-double in the last 40 years, joining Brice Johnson (2016), John Henson (2011), Tyler Hansbrough (2008), Sean May (2005) and Antawn Jamison (1998).
This time last year, Maye's junior season success might have seemed unlikely to some. But then came his 16-point effort against Butler in the Sweet 16 and his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the regional final.
A summer of endless hours in the gym followed. And after earning first-team All-ACC honors during the regular season, Maye returns to the NCAA Tournament, which begins in a familiar setting.
"His impact goes way beyond the points and the rebounds he puts up," Williams said. "He demands attention now. Even if he has an off night, teams still have to respect him because Luke can go off and make four or five shots in a row and then get hot and be hot for the rest of the game.
"He demands attention, he's at the top of other teams' scouting lists. And that in itself is immeasurable."
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